According to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Indianapolis Colts have requested permission to interview Cincinnati Bengals assistant coach Brian Callahan.
It’s the first known head coaching interview request for Callahan this off-season. Callahan has served on Cincinnati’s staff since 2019 when Zac Taylor took over as the franchise’s head coach.
The #Colts requested an interview with #Bengals OC Brian Callahan for their head coaching job, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2023
Prior to his time with the Bengals, Callahan was the Oakland Raiders quarterbacks coach.
Callahan, who is the son of former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan, is the only offensive coordinator that Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has had in the NFL.
But because of Cincy’s success over the last two seasons, it’s inevitable that Callahan will get a head coaching job.
It might not happen this off-season, but it’s going to happen in the next year or two.
The good news for the Bengals is that they have some quality in-house coaches that could be promoted if Callahan is hired as a head coach by another franchise.
Quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher has been with Cincinnati since 2016. He could slide into the offensive coordinator role.
That would allow assistant wide receivers coach Brad Kragthorpe, who worked with Burrow at LSU in 2018, to move into the quarterbacks coach role.
Another option would be for the Bengals to try to bring Buffalo Bills quarterbacks coach Joe Brady to Cincy to serve as the franchise’s offensive coordinator.
Brady was the mastermind behind LSU’s impressive offense in 2019 that saw Burrow pass for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns.
The Bengals might not want to see Callahan go, but at least they have some options if he takes a new job.
