Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan sees something special in rookie quarterback Cam Ward. While speaking to reporters before Sunday’s training camp, Callahan compared Ward to one of the NFL’s biggest stars, Joe Burrow.
Callahan knows Burrow well. He worked closely with him as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals during Burrow’s rookie season in 2020. At that time, meetings were held virtually due to COVID, which allowed Callahan to study Burrow’s progress through recordings. He said that Burrow went through many growing pains before becoming the elite player he is today. Callahan remembered that Burrow didn’t start out great, but over time, he developed into one of the top three quarterbacks in football.
Now that Callahan is coaching another rookie in Ward, he’s using those past experiences to help guide him. He said that the biggest similarity between Ward and Burrow is how well both can process information. That means they are quick thinkers, able to understand plays and make smart decisions, an essential skill for quarterbacks adjusting to the speed of the NFL.
Callahan also mentioned that it helps to compare what each rookie was good at early on and what gave them trouble. That way, he can give Ward the right kind of coaching and support.
Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons even shared his belief in Ward’s talent, calling him “my comp to Joe Burrow.” With Parsons possibly looking for a trade, some fans think the Titans should make a big move to bring in top-tier talent around Ward.
Burrow’s own rookie year was full of learning, but by 2024, he led the league in passing yards and touchdown passes. Callahan believes that with the right coaching, Ward could follow a similar path and grow into a key leader for Tennessee.