The Titans moved shortly after narrowing their listing of basic supervisor candidates to a gaggle of finalists. With second interviews full, a call seems to have been made.
Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi is set to take over the Titans’ front office, as NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero first reported. Whereas ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautions a deal shouldn’t be but accomplished, this information factors towards Tennessee’s GM emptiness being crammed with loads of time left within the offseason.
Six candidates took part in second interviews over the previous few days. Borgonzi was amongst them, which got here as little shock given his expertise and the way shut he got here to touchdown a GM gig final 12 months with the Commanders. After 16 seasons in Kansas Metropolis — together with the previous 4 as assistant basic supervisor — Borgonzi will depart the two-time defending champions to supervise the Titans’ rebuild.
Tennessee moved on from Jon Robinson late within the 2022 marketing campaign, ending his seven-year run span on the franchise’s helm. Ran Carthon was introduced in as his alternative, and the choice by proprietor Amy Adams Strunk to dismiss head coach Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season appeared to set Carthon up for an extended runway in his place. The Titans bottomed out this 12 months, although, and whereas Brian Callahan was retained after one 12 months as head coach, Carthon was let go.
Borgonzi was one of many prime candidates on this 12 months’s GM hiring cycle, additionally interviewing for the Jets’ position. New York’s search continues, however one identify has now been faraway from the listing of remaining choices. With out a head teaching rent to make (which continues to be the case for each the Jets and Raiders), the Titans can transfer ahead with a brand new energy construction as soon as the Borgonzi rent turns into official.
Kansas Metropolis and Tennessee have been linked on the commerce entrance lately. Latest examples embrace the swaps that noticed cornerback L’Jarius Sneed head to Tennessee within the offseason and that despatched wideout DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas Metropolis forward of this 12 months’s deadline. Borgonzi will purpose to make speedy progress regarding roster-building in his first GM alternative, together with the No. 1 decide in April’s draft.
Chad Brinker joined the Titans’ workers together with Carthon and was promoted to president of soccer operations final 12 months. He ran Tennessee’s GM search, and his connections to Borgonzi made this development one to watch. Given the crew’s announcement (throughout the assertion confirming Carthon’s firing) that Brinker would “break ties” relating to key selections, it is going to be fascinating to see how a lot authority Borgonzi wields, particularly within the early portion of his tenure.
For now, although, consideration will flip to constructing out the remainder of the entrance workplace workers. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes that the scouting division may quickly see additions, with former Raiders basic supervisor Dave Ziegler being an choice. In any case, the Titans have discovered the chief tasked with discovering a franchise quarterback and returning the crew to postseason competition.
Right here is the ultimate breakdown of how Tennessee’s search broke down:
- Matt Berry, senior director of participant personnel (Seahawks): Interviewed 1/11
- Mike Borgonzi, assistant basic supervisor (Chiefs): Employed
- Ian Cunningham, assistant basic supervisor (Bears): Conducted second interview 1/15
- Thomas Dimitroff, former basic supervisor (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Ed Dodds, assistant basic supervisor (Colts): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Terrance Grey, vp of participant personnel (Payments): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Catherine Hickman, assistant basic supervisor (Browns): Interviewed 1/11
- Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel government (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/10
- John Spytek, assistant basic supervisor (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/16
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of participant personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 1/16
