Tennessee Titans head coaching search: Anthony Campanile a dark horse candidate?

In just a matter of days, the Tennessee Titans will kick their search for a new head coach into high gear, and general manager Mike Borgonzi will have a chance to put his stamp on the organization entirely.

This will be a challenge because he must balance what is best for Cam Ward’s development with what supports the team's long-term success. In her recent article for The Athletic, Dianna Russini outlined a list of potential targets for the job, which was surprisingly littered with some defensive-minded coaches.

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With the Titans' season winding down, Titans Wire is going to dive into some of those potential candidates to see what would make them an attractive hire in Nashville. The next name on the list was a surprise: Anthony Campanile.

Anthony Campanile, Defensive coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars

Campanile is an interesting candidate who has entered head coach conversations after an outstanding first season as the Jaguars' defensive coordinator.

Campanile has taken a different path to reach this point in his career, moving from a high school coach in 2006 through the college ranks and spending the past six years in the NFL, rising from linebackers coach with the Miami Dolphins to defensive coordinator with the Jaguars.

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Before the NFL, he coached on both sides of the ball at Rutgers and Boston College, then had his big break coaching linebackers at Michigan. In his lone season in Ann Arbor, he mentored Khaleke Hudson and Josh Uche, turning them into solid NFL prospects.

Potential fit

Campanile, like all defensive-minded coaches, will have to answer the same question that other defensive-minded candidates face: What is the plan for Cam Ward and the offense? And in his case, his college background on both sides of the ball could be an asset.

While he lacks an extensive NFL resume compared with many candidates, his focus on building a culture within an organization could appeal to the front office, which has spoken at length about rebuilding the culture in Nashville.

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Campanile has been successful in his first season as a coordinator with the Jaguars, with his unit sitting 12th in the NFL, including first against the run. This is a significant improvement from their dismal 2024 performance, and a primary reason why they are a playoff team in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans head coaching search: Anthony Campanile a dark horse candidate?