Add another offensive-minded coach to the list of head coaching candidates in Tennessee. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Titans will host former Stanford head coach David Shaw this weekend to interview for their vacant head coaching job. 
Shaw was out of coaching in 2023, taking a year off after re-signing from his longtime position as head coach of the Cardinal. Shaw held his position at Stanford for 12 years, winning three conference titles in his first five years at the helm. Shaw had been a homerun hire out of the gate, amassing an 82-26 record over his first eight years in Palo Alto. Unfortunately, a 14-28 record over his last four years, including two consecutive 3-9 seasons to close out his tenure, seemingly forced his hand, ending his time at Stanford.
Before serving as a head coach at the collegiate level, a position Shaw had been promoted to after time as an offensive coordinator for the Cardinal and passing game coordinator at the University of San Diego under Jim Harbaugh, Shaw had an extensive career as an NFL assistant. After starting as an offensive quality control coach in Philadelphia in 1997, Shaw spent three years in the same role for the Raiders. In 2001, Shaw was promoted to quarterbacks coach in Oakland and would leave the next year to coach quarterbacks and wide receivers in Baltimore.
Shaw’s college coaching career saw him bring up such NFL successes as Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey. His pro-style offense has often been a point of interest in the NFL, bringing his name up in several head coaching searches in the past. Despite all the interest, this will only be Shaw’s third NFL head coaching interview following an interview yesterday with the Chargers and last year with the Broncos.
You can find the full list of all candidates for vacant NFL head coaching jobs at PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, but for convenience, the Titans are as follows:
- Thomas Brown, offensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed 1/18
- Brian Callahan, offensive coordinator (Bengals): To conduct second interview
- Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed 1/19
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Brian Johnson, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed 1/19
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interviewed 1/12
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed 1/13
- Antonio Pierce, interim head coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/13; hired as Raiders HC
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Interviewed 1/17
- David Shaw, former head coach (Stanford): To interview 1/20
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/18
When was the last time a college coach earned an NFL head coach interview after going 3-9 his last two years at the college level? What am I missing here?
Kliff Kingsbury maybe? But you’re right. Shaw is a dud.
You’re right. Kingsbury had a losing record at Texas Tech and was fired, before subsequently landing a head coaching gig in the NFL. Good call.
Whoever hires Shaw as head coach should be declared the winner of the offseason. This man knows how teach football as good as anyone. He’s been around the game since he came into this world.
Bobby Slowik would be the smart move. Has 2 years with defense in SF and years of offensive grooming with Shanahan. Look what he’s done one one year in Houston- If I was Strunk, I’d grab him so fast his head would spin.