While he’s not happy about the moment being captured on camera, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan has no regrets about his emotional outburst toward Will Levis on Sunday afternoon.
Callahan was spotted after the quarterback fumbled just six yards outside the end zone in . Callahan was livid when Levis returned to the sideline.
While he did not want Levis to be blamed for the incident, Callahan stands by his response.
“I don’t regret my feelings about it and how I felt at the time,” Callahan said Monday. “I’m generally pretty calm. That one just put me on edge, and I, I’m human just like everybody else. I have blackout moments where I lose my mind.”
Considering the fumble itself, it’s easy to understand why Callahan was so upset. Levis, on third-and-goal from the 6-yard line with a chance to put the Titans up by two scores, attempted to throw a backward shovel pass to running back Tyjae Spears in a bit of a panic as he tried to move through the pocket. Jets linebacker Quincy Williams landed on the fumble and recovered the ball to complete the turnover.
Even if Levis had fallen and taken the sack, the Titans could have walked away with three points. Instead, the Jets scored a touchdown after Levis threw an interception on the first play of their next drive to tie the game. They ultimately pushed the Titans to 0-2 on the season.
“He’s mature and he knows better,” Callahan said Sunday. “So I was really annoyed that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed.”
In addition to those two turnovers, the Titans also had a run blocked. All three of those things also happened in their season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears last week, making the Titans the first team to do that in consecutive weeks since 2002.
Levis, whom the Titans took with the 33rd overall pick out of Kentucky in the 2023 draft, went 19 of 28 for 192 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the loss. It was better than his first outing of the season, in which he threw for two interceptions and just 127 yards against the Bears.
The Titans host the Green Bay Packers next week, where they will look to avoid falling behind 0-3.
“[My decision-making has] “It’s got to be something that’s more second nature to me,” Levis said, via ESPN. “I’m going to do everything I can to rewire my brain to make sure that in those situations I don’t do those things [bad] decision.”
