Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker is stepping down from his role, the team announced this evening. The 46-year-old spent the past three years in Tennessee’s front office.
“It has been an honor to serve as President of Football Operations of the Tennessee Titans,” Brinker said in his statement. “Over the years, I’ve understood and embraced my role as the leader of the football strategy, but as I’ve spent less time in personnel, I have a renewed conviction that it is time to return to what I love and move towards my next chapter. I’m grateful for Amy’s understanding in my decision, and for allowing me to pursue other opportunities.
“I’m proud of the work we’ve done over the past three years – under challenging circumstances – to begin the process of getting the Titans football organization back on track, not the least of which was last year’s general manager search. I believe the Titans have exceptional people and long-term stability at the general manager position and throughout the scouting department. While there is work to be done, I believe we’ve laid the foundation to restore the Titans to its rightful place as a sustainable, winning program.
“My family and I will always be grateful for Amy’s belief and trust in me, and for our time in Tennessee.”
Following a brief playing career that included a stint in NFL Europe, Brinker joined the Packers front office. He spent more than a decade with the organization, working his way up from a scouting intern to assistant director of pro scouting to eventually an administration executive gig.
Brinker left for the Titans in 2023, earning a promotion to assistant general manager under Ray Carthon. When the GM was ousted after only one season in Tennessee, Brinker was named the Titans president of football operations, a role in which he reportedly had full control of the team’s roster. The Titans website notes that he also reported directly to owner Amy Adams Strunk.
Brinker kept his title through the 2025 campaign, although the Titans did hire a true GM in Mike Borgonzi last offseason. Brian Callahan was fired six games into the regular season, and the two front office leaders were tasked with conducting a coaching search. The organization ultimately landed on Robert Saleh. Now only a few months into the head coach’s tenure, the team is seeing another significant change in leadership.
The Titans website notes that Brinker was widely credited with reshaping the organization’s analytic approach, and his apparent desire to return to “personnel” indicates that he wants a bit more from his front office role. Of course, there aren’t any teams reshaping their front offices at this point in the offseason, but perhaps Brinker could emerge as a GM candidate during next year’s cycle.
It seems like this was probably planned, but you still can’t help but add Brinker to a long list of former Titans top executives…
This doesn’t feel as contentious as the others, but given the history, it’s notable. Hopefully for Tennessee Borgonzi turns it around and builds some stability.