Tennessee Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker has resigned just days after the NFL Draft, reshaping the front office after a tough season.
Tennessee Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker has stepped away from the role, announcing his resignation just days after the NFL Draft wrapped.
Brinker’s exit lands at a sensitive moment for Tennessee. following a season that ended with a 3-14 record and another trip to the drawing board as the franchise looks for the right blend of roster direction and organizational stability.. In his statement. Brinker framed the move as a return to the kind of football work he prefers most—personnel and scouting—after spending the past stretch leading broader football strategy and front-office coordination.
The most notable part of Brinker’s message wasn’t just that he was leaving, but why.. He said his role increasingly required more time away from the personnel side of the business. and that his conviction has grown that it’s time to get back to the work he loves.. Brinker also expressed confidence that the Titans have the people and long-term steadiness needed in the general manager and scouting departments. even as “work remains. ” in the organization’s own framing.
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk acknowledged the difficulty of the decision. calling Brinker an exceptional talent with deep football knowledge and a rare ability to connect big-picture strategy to execution.. She said she understood the reasoning behind his departure and offered support as he moves to his next chapter. while also thanking him and his family for their loyalty.
That loyalty matters in a front office because continuity is often the difference between quick fixes and durable rebuilds.. In Tennessee’s case. Brinker’s tenure has been tied closely to a transitional period that began with the end of Mike Vrabel’s coaching run.. Brinker arrived with the Titans in 2023. serving as assistant general manager during the final season of Vrabel’s tenure. a relationship that helped define his early influence in the organization.
Vrabel was dismissed after the 2023 season following a 6-11 record, ending a coaching career in Tennessee that finished at 54-45.. The post-Vrabel reset didn’t stop at the head coach position, either.. After Vrabel’s firing. Joe front-office planning had to evolve under a new leader. and that’s where Chad Brinker’s promotion became a key part of the Titans’ internal structure.. General manager Ran Carthon was later fired in 2024, and Brinker was promoted to President of Football Operations.
Brinker’s job description in practice went beyond the title.. He served as the team’s de facto general manager while searching for the right executive fit to run the personnel side more directly.. In 2025, Mike Borgonzi was hired for the general manager role, reporting to Brinker.. That chain of command shaped how decisions were made during the 2025 season. when the Titans struggled. going 3-14 and missing the playoffs.
Beyond the immediate disappointment of another losing season. Brinker’s resignation raises a bigger question for how the Titans will handle personnel planning and executive alignment going forward.. His stated preference—to move back toward a more hands-on personnel focus—suggests the Titans may now face a gap in the kind of leadership that can bridge strategy and scouting at the same time.
For fans, this doesn’t come as a minor staffing change.. When you’re rebuilding. every personnel decision—draft preparation. coaching staff assessment. contract strategy. and scouting priorities—feeds into the same pipeline.. Brinker’s departure after the draft also means Tennessee will have to manage any transition smoothly while evaluating the impact of choices already made.
Looking ahead, the Titans will likely prioritize maintaining the stability they highlighted in their own messaging.. Brinker indicated he believes the franchise has long-term structure at general manager and within scouting. but the timing of his resignation will still force the organization to clarify responsibilities and workflows.. Whether it leads to a cleaner focus for the football operation—or complicates the internal decision-making process—could shape how quickly Tennessee finds its next competitive identity.