NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans has grown increasingly frustrated with the number of penalties being called against his team, particularly during pivotal moments of games. On Sunday, his emotions boiled over as he reacted strongly to a significant penalty during the second quarter of their 23-13 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings.
Callahan’s dissatisfaction was evident when he received two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for voicing his displeasure with the officiating crew. He believed that a roughness penalty assessed to linebacker Mike Brown, after he broke up a pass intended for Vikings receiver Jordan Addison during a crucial fourth-and-goal situation, was unwarranted. Callahan noted, “I saw a hit that was level with the shoulder pads to the body,” when asked about the replay.
This particular penalty resulted in a first down for the Vikings, who capitalized immediately, with quarterback Sam Darnold scoring on the next play. Just a week earlier, Callahan had endured another controversial officiating decision when a strip-sack play by Jeffery Simmons, which was scooped up by Titans cornerback Roger McCreary and returned for a potential touchdown, was overturned after a review.
The latest defeat dropped Callahan and the Titans’ record to 2-8 for the season. They faced a total of 13 penalties, racking up 91 penalty yards, including an illegal formation call against a new right tackle that erased a 51-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis to Calvin Ridley. This same tackle was flagged again later in the game, nullifying a 23-yard gain in the fourth quarter.
“It’s understandable for the players to be frustrated; they absolutely should be,” said Callahan, who revealed he had discussions with NFL senior vice president of officiating communications and administration Perry Fewell regarding the events.
Referee Clete Blakeman commented on the situation, explaining that both the down judge and side judge agreed on the penalty against Brown, despite having different perspectives on the play. Blakeman described the incident as a case where a defensive player made contact with a receiver identified as defenseless, noting that it involved helmet contact to the chest and neck area, which is considered a foul.
Despite the controversy, these types of penalties cannot be reviewed. Blakeman acknowledged that there was no assist from the replay system in this case. Video evidence showed that Brown’s left foot seemed to remain grounded when he struck Addison.
After the game, Levis mentioned that Callahan had reminded the team to be cautious about their comments regarding officials, as they were now 1-4 at home this season. He expressed hope that fortune would eventually turn in their favor, stating, “Guys are playing their hearts out. At some point, things will shake in our favor.”
The penalties highlighted the Titans’ ongoing struggles at the right tackle position, which Callahan had previously referred to as their “weakest link.” Isaiah Prince, who joined the practice squad on October 22, faced multiple illegal formation penalties that restricted the team significantly and negated opportunities.
Rookie left tackle JC Latham remarked on the stringent enforcement of illegal formations, mentioning that he had never experienced multiple calls of this nature in a single game before. He recalled being warned by an official during the game to position himself closer to the line.
The barrage of penalties left the Titans players feeling helpless. Simmons noted the frustration of some flags being thrown after celebratory moments, stating, “Things like that are out of our control. I think we’re cursed when it comes down to officiating right now. That’s just my opinion. We have to hold our tongues because we know the NFL is monitoring us for any comments.”