The music is over and time has run out for Titans GM. Tennessee Titans controlling and majority owner Amy Adams Strunk was confident in and directly singled out quarterback Will Levis aka the ‘Mayonnaise Man’ and general manager Ran Carthon when explaining why her franchise had a bright future going into the 2024 campaign. However, what a difference a year makes. One was a source of frustration and anger with his awful performances on the field in 2024, while the other has now been shown the door and been relieved of his duties.
On Tuesday, the Titans fired Carthon following two underwhelming seasons in Tennessee. Brian Callahan is safe for now and will keep his position as head coach after coming on board less than a year ago, but everyone in the NFL community knew heads were going to roll and changes were evident after Tennessee closed out the season with a 3-14 record, which comes with the benefit of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I’ve loved the time I’ve spent with Ran. He’s a talented football mind, a great man, and friend to everyone along his path,” Strunk said in a statement. “It’s impossible to ignore that our football team hasn’t improved over the past two years. I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course.
“I love this team more than you can imagine. To our fans: we know this level of performance isn’t acceptable. We’re humbled by your support as we continue to work towards building the team you expect and deserve.”
Embed from Getty ImagesCarthon was hired by the Titans to serve as their general manager in 2023, and was elevated in short order to executive vice president/general manager when head coach Mike Vrabel was fired last year after six years on the job. Carthon and president of football operations Chad Brinker headlined the new front office structure. Brinker will spearhead the expansive search for a new general manager.
The Titans were not afraid to spend money and aggressive in talent acquisition this past offseason, and did their best to build around Levis, who they clearly viewed as having face-of-the-franchise potential. Carthon went on a spending spree, dropping a whopping $228.2 million, according to ESPN. That included a four-year, $92 million contract given to wide receiver Calvin Ridley, a four-year, $50 million deal handed to center Lloyd Cushenberry, a three-year, $36 million deal that took cornerback Chidobe Awuzie away from the Cincinnati Bengals, a three-year, $21.7 million contract given to running back Tony Pollard, who was with ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys and a two-year, $15.5 million contract inked by linebacker Kenneth Murray. The Titans also traded a third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who then signed a massive four-year, $76.4 million contract. Three of those six signings finished the season on injured reserve.
Tennessee appeared to hit the jackpot on its top two draft picks last April in left tackle JC Latham at No. 7 overall, and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat at No. 38 overall. Fifth-round pick cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. out of Louisville was also a key contributor who started 14 out of 17 games played with the rash of injuries at the cornerback spot.
Several moves Carthon and the Titans front office orchestrated over the last year were celebrated, but this is a bottom-line business and the Titans were a shameful 9-25 over the last two seasons. Strunk made clear her high expectations last offseason, and she has made another emphatic statement in an attempt to get the team on the right track.
