The Titans moved shortly after narrowing their record of common supervisor candidates to a bunch of finalists. With second interviews full, a choice 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 isn’t but completed, 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 yr with the Commanders. After 16 seasons in Kansas Metropolis — together with the previous 4 as assistant common 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 a protracted runway in his place. The Titans bottomed out this yr, although, and whereas Brian Callahan was retained after one yr as head coach, Carthon was let go.
Borgonzi was one of many high candidates on this yr’s GM hiring cycle, additionally interviewing for the Jets’ position. New York’s search continues, however one identify has now been faraway from the record of remaining choices. With no 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 not too long ago. 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 yr’s deadline. Borgonzi will intention to make speedy progress regarding roster-building in his first GM alternative, together with the No. 1 choose in April’s draft.
Chad Brinker joined the Titans’ workers together with Carthon and was promoted to president of soccer operations final yr. He ran Tennessee’s GM search, and his connections to Borgonzi made this development one to watch. Given the group’s announcement (in the course of the assertion confirming Carthon’s firing) that Brinker would “break ties” relating to key choices, will probably 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 might quickly see additions, with former Raiders common supervisor Dave Ziegler being an possibility. In any case, the Titans have discovered the chief tasked with discovering a franchise quarterback and returning the group to postseason rivalry.
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 common supervisor (Chiefs): Employed
- Ian Cunningham, assistant common supervisor (Bears): Conducted second interview 1/15
- Thomas Dimitroff, former common supervisor (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Ed Dodds, assistant common supervisor (Colts): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Terrance Grey, vp of participant personnel (Payments): Conducted second interview 1/14
- Catherine Hickman, assistant common supervisor (Browns): Interviewed 1/11
- Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel govt (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/10
- John Spytek, assistant common supervisor (Buccaneers): Conducted second interview 1/16
- Jon-Eric Sullivan, director of participant personnel (Packers): Conducted second interview 1/16
