Sources: Giants hire Brian Callahan to John Harbaugh’s staff

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — The New York Giants are hiring former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, sources tell ESPN.

Callahan, 41, also interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with the Giants. That job went to former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator and Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy.

That now gives John Harbaugh a wealth of experience on a new offensive staff that includes two former NFL head coaches in Nagy and Callahan, a former college head coach in offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren and two other former offensive coordinators in senior offensive assistant Greg Roman and tight ends coach Tim Kelly.

Callahan was fired by the Titans in mid-October. He moves from working with Cam Ward, last year’s first overall pick, to the second quarterback selected in the draft, Jaxson Dart. Coincidentally, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is now coaching Ward as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee.

Before becoming head coach of the Titans, Callahan had a long history of success working with quarterbacks. He spent two years as Matthew Stafford’s quarterback coach with the Detroit Lions, a year with Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders and four seasons as Joe Burrow’s offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Between Callahan, Nagy and Roman, they have spent the last few years coaching Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Burrow and Justin Herbert.

Callahan went 4-19 as head coach of the Titans, including 1-5 last season with Ward. Their offense has scored just 83 points in six games, the franchise’s fewest in six games since 1985, according to ESPN Research.

The frustration flared in Week 3 at Nissan Stadium in a 41-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Fans booed the Titans as they entered the locker room at halftime and chanted “Fire Callahan” repeatedly during the game.

Callahan turned over playing duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree before being fired. He also wasn’t the primary play-caller in Cincinnati.

Now he will return to his roots coaching quarterbacks. The Giants quarterback room currently has Dart and veteran Jameis Winston under contract. Russell Wilson is set to become a free agent.

In addition to coaching the quarterbacks, Callahan will be in charge of the Giants’ passing game, and Roman is expected to play a significant role in shaping the team’s running game under Nagy in New York’s new offensive setup. It’s all part of Harbaugh’s plan to build a strong supporting cast for Dart in his second professional season.