NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have appointed their third general manager in nine years, marking a significant shift within the organization’s leadership. As the Titans unveiled Mike Borgonzi as their new GM on Wednesday, Chad Brinker, the president of football operations, expressed confidence in this latest appointment. “Mike Borgonzi,” stated Brinker, underscoring his optimism about the future.
Borgonzi steps into the role with a significant opportunity ahead of him, possessing the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft and $50 million available in salary cap space. This will be essential as the Titans seek to rejuvenate a franchise that has experienced a disappointing 16-35 record over the past three seasons. Prior to joining the Titans, Borgonzi spent 16 years with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he eventually rose to the position of assistant general manager. During his tenure there, he contributed to the Chiefs securing twelve consecutive winning seasons, with the team now vying for its fifth Super Bowl appearance in six years, aiming for a third consecutive Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Interest in the Titans’ top draft pick has already begun to surface, prompting Borgonzi to acknowledge that he has received inquiries. “I think I got some feelers yeah,” he said with a laugh. “Some congratulatory, but yeah, ‘Keep in touch.’” Borgonzi was brought on board on January 17, shortly after owner Amy Adams Strunk made the decision to dismiss general manager Ran Carthon following two years and a lackluster 9-25 record.
During the initial hiring process, Brinker conducted virtual interviews with ten candidates, eventually narrowing it down to six who engaged with Titans officials over a three-day period. A pivotal link for Brinker and Borgonzi is John Dorsey, who has had an influential role in both their careers. Brinker began in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, where Dorsey had a long-standing executive career, while Borgonzi was part of the Chiefs’ organization during Dorsey’s tenure as general manager starting in 2013.
Moreover, there’s continuity in coaching philosophy, as Kansas City’s head coach Andy Reid also began his career with the Packers. This shared background allows for a consistent approach to player evaluation and scouting, including similar grading systems. Brinker praised Borgonzi for modernizing parts of this system, stating, “When he kind of went through the interview process and presented, I was like, ‘Wow, there’s some pretty cool ideas that he’s kind of added to it.’” He highlighted their shared commitment to the underlying philosophy and framework of player scouting and development.
Borgonzi’s immediate task is to address what Brinker referred to as the “major holes” in the Titans’ roster that contributed to their challenging 3-14 record in Brian Callahan’s first season as head coach. With only Will Levis under contract as the quarterback for 2025, enhancing that position will be crucial. Additionally, Borgonzi is tasked with strengthening the right side of the offensive line, improving depth on the defensive line and pass rush, and increasing team speed overall.
How Borgonzi decides to utilize the No. 1 overall pick will be instrumental in the rebuilding efforts of the Titans. The team currently holds only eight selections in April’s draft, notably lacking a third-round pick after trading for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. Furthermore, they have exchanged seventh-round picks with the Chiefs, resulting in the Titans selecting later than they would have preferred.
As preparations intensify, Borgonzi and the Titans will start their assessments with the East-West Shrine Bowl on Saturday, followed by the Senior Bowl on February 1. Brinker and Callahan have emphasized a “draft and develop” strategy moving forward, intending to sign prospects to new contracts for sustainable growth. Brinker expressed ambitions of acquiring 30 picks over the next three drafts, including twelve within the top 100 selections.
With all possibilities on the table, the Titans are looking to maximize their upcoming draft opportunities. In the past, they seized a similar opportunity in the 2016 draft when they traded the No. 1 pick to the Los Angeles Rams. That decision proved fruitful, securing three All-Pro players, including right tackle Jack Conklin, along with five-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry and safety Kevin Byard. Such strategic moves contributed to the Titans’ consecutive winning seasons and deep playoff runs, including an AFC championship appearance in 2019 and securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2020.
“We can’t pass up on a generational talent,” Brinker noted, reiterating the importance of making strategic decisions while considering all options. “We won’t do that. But we also got to look at all the options available to us there as well, because we want to build this team for the long term.”
