Titans coach Brian Callahan was left red-faced on Monday as he admitted to not knowing a crucial NFL rule following his team’s 20-12 loss to Denver the day before.
Late in the third quarter, receiver Elic Ayomanor appeared to convert a crucial first down with an acrobatic catch along the sideline that would’ve advanced the ball past midfield.
The receiver fell with his elbow inbounds, but didn’t get either of his feet in.
And while he should have still been awarded a catch by NFL rules – which state that a catch should be given for getting two feet inbounds or any non-hand body part – the would-be 20-plus yard card catch was deemed incomplete by referees.
Asked by reporters after the game why his team didn’t challenge the call, Callahan doubled down.
‘Yeah, you got to get a foot in bounds too. Which, we didn’t have a clean look at whether his foot was down as well. An elbow doesn’t equal two feet,’ he told reporters.
Brian Callahan admitted that he got a crucial rule wrong against the Broncos
Elic Ayomanor failed to get his feet in during the above catch but did get his elbow down – which should have counted as a catch
‘So his foot would’ve had to come down too… we didn’t have a clean look, so, the call from upstairs was that it wasn’t worth challenging.’
In fact, the play call would’ve been reversed had the Titans challenged the play – a fact that Callahan admitted the following day.
‘My interpretation of the rule was wrong, we should’ve challenged the play,’ he admitted.
Curiously, he later said in the same press conference that he was aware of the rule but had misspoken the day before.
Nonetheless, fans were not impressed with the coach.
‘Brian Callahan is the worst coach in football,’ one said.
‘Fire Brian Callahan ASAP,’ a second raged after the game.
And a third added: ‘This is absolutely BRUTAL. How many games does Brian Callahan have left as a Head Coach?’
The game was No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward’s debut in the NFL, and the former Miami star had a difficult outing against a stern Broncos defense.
Ward completed just 12-of-28 passes at Denver without throwing for a touchdown – though he also didn’t throw an interception.
The Titans will look to bounce back against the Rams on Sunday.
