On Monday, the Tennessee Titans made a drastic move, deciding to fire head coach Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start. The move continues a remarkable, yet troubling trend over the last five years involving quarterbacks taken No. 1 overall.
Specifically, each of the last four top overall quarterback selections have lost their head coach within months of their debut, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
In 2021, Urban Meyer was dismissed just 13 games into Trevor Lawrence’s rookie season in Jacksonville after a string of controversies and a 2-11 record. Two years later, Frank Reich was fired by the Carolina Panthers midway through Bryce Young’s first season. In 2024, Caleb Williams saw Matt Eberflus let go in Chicago after a disappointing start to the year. Now, Ward joins the list following Callahan’s firing in Tennessee.
Each situation has its own circumstances, but the common thread is clear: teams are showing little patience when it comes to developing their franchise quarterbacks. The expectation for instant success — both for the rookie and the coaching staff — has rarely been higher.
In Tennessee, Callahan’s offense ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every category, averaging just 14.6 points per game and 225 total yards in Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Raiders. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Titans initially planned to evaluate Callahan after the season, but “things spiraled out of control” inside the building, forcing the front office to act sooner.
Whether Ward’s development will now stabilize under an interim coach remains to be seen, but the pattern speaks volumes. In today’s NFL, patience is wearing thin — especially when it comes to the coach tied to a No. 1 pick.