The Tennessee Titans officially announced Brian Callahan as their next coach on Thursday, ending the team's search to replace Mike Vrabel and beginning the franchise's next era with one of the key figures from the Cincinnati Bengals' brain trust.

Callahan, 39, will take over a Titans team that's lost 18 of its last 24 games dating back to 2022. Callahan had been the Bengals' offensive coordinator since 2019, helping oversee the team's transformation from bottom-dweller to AFC title contender in just a few years alongside coach Zac Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow.

What Amy Adams Strunk said about new Titans hire Brian Callahan

"This is an exciting time for our franchise, and we're thrilled to have Brian as our head coach," said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk in a team release. "We went through a thorough candidate search and Brian stood out as the best person to lead our football team. I want to thank the other candidates who were part of this process and wish them well moving forward.

"Brian has a track record of success and a range of experience that has prepared him for this opportunity. His football knowledge and his enthusiasm for the game really stand out, and beyond that, we think his ability to lead will make him the ideal fit for our franchise.

"If you look at his history, Brian has been a part of a Super Bowl winning team (Denver, 2015) and another team that advanced to the Super Bowl (Cincinnati, 2021). He's worked in a variety of dynamic offenses with top-flight quarterbacks. At each step of his career, he's shown the flexibility and intelligence to make an impact.

"During his time with the Bengals, he was trusted with a number of responsibilities — offensive design, quarterback development, a contributor to the free agency and draft processes — and showed the ability to be a resource in all of those areas. As we seek sustained success and pursue a championship, Brian has seen firsthand what that looks like, and he is the right person to lead us there.

"To our fans, thank you for your support and for sticking with us. You deserve a championship team, and we're going to get there. I can't wait for you to get to know Brian and his family."

After firing Vrabel on Jan. 9, Adams Strunk said her hope in the coaching search was to make sure the Titans' football operations are better aligned and more collaborative.

General manager Ran Carthon and Callahan have never worked together. Callahan is one of 10 candidates Carthon and the Titans' leadership group interviewed for the position, and one of the select few the team brought in more than once.

Eight NFL teams had coaching vacancies this offseason and the Titans made the third-quickest hire. The two teams that hired candidates before the Titans both promoted coaches already on their staff.

Who is Titans coach Brian Callahan?

Callahan has worked in the NFL since 2010, holding various roles on offensive staffs with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders and Bengals. He was an offensive assistant on the Broncos staff that led the team to a win in Super Bowl 50 and as offensive coordinator he helped guide the Bengals to two AFC Championship appearances and one Super Bowl berth.

NASHVILLE KNOWLEDGE: Whatever may come of Brian Callahan, he's who Tennessee Titans truly wanted | Estes

A quarterbacks coach by trade, Callahan has worked with star passers such as Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford and Burrow.

Callahan is the son of Cleveland Browns offensive line coach and former Raiders and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan. The father and son duo have never worked together on an NFL staff.

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Brian Callahan hired as Tennessee Titans coach: What Amy Adams Strunk said