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NFL insider breaks down Chad Brinker's departure from the Titans
TL;DR
Chad Brinker has stepped down as President of Football Operations for the Tennessee Titans, a move seen as a return to personnel work. His departure highlights ongoing issues within the organization but also brings hope for a more aligned front office moving forward.
Key points
- Chad Brinker stepped down from the Titans
- His departure signals ongoing organizational issues
- The Titans' front office is being reshaped with experienced personnel
Mentioned in this story
Tennessee TitansChad BrinkerAlbert BreerDave ZieglerReggie McKenzieDan SaganeyJon Salge
Just last week, the Tennessee Titans were the talk of the NFL after President of Football Operations Chad Brinker surprised many by stepping down from his position and leaving the organization.
While some took this decision as a sign of dysfunction, those closer to the organization understood it as a move Brinker made to return to the personnel world, away from the analytics and business aspects within the organization.
After some pointed, misplaced claims, one NFL analyst, Albert Breer, offers a great explanation that captures everything taking place inside the Titans' facility.
I think the Titans might finally have things straightened out. That isn’t a shot at now-departed president of football operations Chad Brinker. His departure last week, as I understand it, was more the result of a symptom of what has taken place in Nashville over the last 40 months. Which has basically been Band-Aid after Band-Aid after Band-Aid.
The story all this tells is one of scattershot decision-making, failed hiring processes and a general lack of vision for an organization. A lot of it lands at the feet of Strunk, and we’ve been over that plenty here the past few years. But looking forward? There’s reason for hope …
Borgonzi has stocked his personnel department with ex-GMs (assistant GM Dave Ziegler and VP/football advisor Reggie McKenzie) and guys on the rise (VP of player personnel Dan Saganey and director of player personnel Jon Salge, the one holdover from past regimes at that level). Meanwhile, Saleh has former head coaches Brian Daboll and Gus Bradley as coordinators and veteran assistant John Fassel running his special teams.
That doesn’t mean Brinker won’t leave a void. There’s some rearranging to do on the operations side, and there certainly could be an addition or two. And the process of aligning all of it is still ongoing.
But this feels like the Titans’ brass is in lockstep for the first time in a long time, now possessing an experienced front office and field crew. The hope is the class they just drafted is in line with that and the 2026 season will be, too.
Q&A
Why did Chad Brinker leave the Tennessee Titans?
Chad Brinker left the Titans to return to the personnel side of football, moving away from the analytics and business aspects of his role.
What impact will Chad Brinker's departure have on the Titans?
Brinker's departure may create a void in operations, but it also opens the door for a more experienced front office and a chance for organizational alignment.
Who are the key figures in the Titans' front office after Brinker's exit?
Key figures include assistant GM Dave Ziegler, VP/football advisor Reggie McKenzie, and director of player personnel Jon Salge, who are all part of the revamped personnel department.
