Titans’ Post-Vrabel Shake-Up Continues With Chad Brinker’s Exit

Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker has stepped down, continuing the busy cycle of comings and goings at the top levels of the NFL franchise in recent years.

Since Mike Vrabel was fired in January 2024, Tennessee has seen eight different hirings, firings, or resignations at the head coach and lead front office positions.

Here is the timeline:

January 2024

• Assistant GM Chad Brinker promoted to president of football operations
• GM Ran Carthon promoted to EVP/GM
• Brian Callahan hired as head coach

January 2025

• EVP/GM Ran Carthon fired
• Mike Borgonzi hired as GM

October 2025

• Head coach Brian Callahan fired

January 2026

• Robert Saleh hired as head coach

April 2026

• President of football operations Chad Brinker steps down

Before Saleh was hired in January, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk changed the franchise’s front office structure so that Borgonzi and Brinker would both report directly to her. Previously, only Brinker reported directly to Strunk, and Borgonzi reported to Brinker.

The shift gave Borgonzi final say on the team’s 53-man roster, and he led the coaching search that brought on Saleh. Strunk at the time said Brinker would continue to lead strategic functions, including salary cap management, analytics, research and development, and other football departments.

“Over the years, I’ve understood and embraced my role as the leader of the football strategy, but as I’ve spent less time in personnel, I have a renewed conviction that it is time to return to what I love and move towards my next chapter,” Brinker said in a statement Wednesday evening. “I’m grateful for Amy’s understanding in my decision, and for allowing me to pursue other opportunities.”

Strunk, in a statement, said, “When we first met Chad, it was clear he was an exceptional talent with deep knowledge of the game and the ability to connect big-picture strategy to execution. While it is difficult to lose him, I understand his decision and will do whatever I can to support him.”

The Titans did not have a president of football operations before Brinker assumed the role in 2024. It is unclear whether the franchise will look to fill his role.

The Titans are 6–28 in the two seasons since firing Vrabel, who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season coaching in New England in 2025. However, Vrabel has come under scrutiny this offseason as details have come to light about his relationship with NFL insider Dianni Russini, who stepped down from The Athletic amid the scandal.