Jaw-to-the-floor awe wasn't the only impression young Brian Callahan walked away with.

The new Tennessee Titans coach walked away with knowledge, with memories, with motivation.

It was all thanks to his father, longtime NFL coach Bill Callahan, who these days is the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns.

Brian Callahan was a kid when he'd sit in on meetings in quarterback rooms of teams his father coached.

"I don't know how many fathers and sons have been head coaches in the NFL," Brian Callahan said. "I don't think it's many . . . It's a very prideful thing to be associated with him and I.

"You want to be like your dad, you know?"

For the record, the Callahans are the seventh father-son combo to accomplish the feat. The others are Kyle and Mike Shanahan; Bum and Wade Phillips; Jim Mora Sr. and Jim Mora Jr.; Dick and Mike Nolan; Buddy and Rex Ryan; and Don and David Shula.

Like father, like son

There was Jeff George and Pro Bowl quarterback Rich Gannon when Bill Callahan was offensive coordinator for the Raiders under Jon Gruden, then later as head coach for the team.

Before that there was Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete, when Bill Callahan was offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Those are just some of the people young Brian Callahan was around.

"I learned probably more by osmosis, just watching," he said. "You reflect back and realize maybe you heard something.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I was learning a lot about leadership at 14 years old and sitting in Jon Gruden's quarterback meetings. I was more in awe of those players and listening to Jon talk. But I reflect back on those moments a lot. There's things you learn about how people handle it. It's certainly helped me be around this game for a long time.

"I don't know a way of life, other than football."

Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said she can relate. Her father, Bud Adams, after all, was founder and owner of the Titans, and at the time of his death, was the all-time leader in wins for an owner.

"On a personal note, I knew that we both shared the connection of having fathers who passed down their love of football to their children," she said.

Father knows best

Brian Callahan has a long way to go to catch his father.

Bill Callahan has been coaching since 1980, when he was a graduate assistant at the University of Illinois. He began his NFL career in 1995 with the Eagles. Brian's career began in 2006 as a graduate assistant at UCLA.

When asked Thursday whether he has thought about hiring his father as an assistant, his answer was a simple "no."

"I have not," Brian Callahan said. "I don't know how many sons have interviewed their fathers for jobs, but no, I haven't given much thought to that.

"He's under contract. There's nothing I can say to that either way."

TIME TO GO TO WORK: Brian Callahan wanted Tennessee Titans as badly as they want him. Next is the hard part

HE'S THE BOSS: What new Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan said about his staff hires — including dad

WHERE THERE'S A WILL LEVIS: How will Brian Callahan work with Will Levis? What new Tennessee Titans coach said about QB

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan got lessons from some big names