The Tennessee Titans are entering a new chapter in the 2025 NFL season with rookie quarterback Cam Ward leading the offense. As the Titans prepare for Saturday’s preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, head coach Brian Callahan highlighted key traits that make Ward stand out as the team’s new franchise signal-caller.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Titans decided to invest in finding a franchise quarterback, resulting in them selecting Ward. Now, the question is whether the former University of Miami standout is ready to transition from the college game to the pros.
On Wednesday, Callahan spoke with the NFL Network’s Sara Walsh, and he shared a few traits that have stood out to him since the Titans selected him first overall in the spring.
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“Well, the first thing is he’s got the talent,” Callahan told Walsh. “He’s got the requisite talent to be a really good player in this league. But more importantly, it’s his makeup and his mindset—the work that he puts in, the focus that he has. He doesn’t care about anything but football. I think you have to be that way, especially as a young player.
“Then there’s been growth. I think every day he’s grown. He’s getting exposed to more and more things—from pressure packages and protections to timing and all that stuff that you have to do as an NFL quarterback. His growth every day has been really fun to watch. Got a lot of work still to do, but excited where we’re.”
Brian Callahan on Cam Ward’s progress, making things tough on a rookie qb and the urgency/patience battle for the @Titans . #nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/XMTsv7Gm6o
— Sara Walsh (@Sara_Walsh) August 6, 2025
Moreover, with the Titans facing the Denver Broncos in Week 1, it’s up to Callahan and the coaching staff to prepare Ward for a defense that last season led the league in sacks (65) and quarterback pressures (195).
The Broncos were also in the top six in quarterback hurries (60), so what’s occurring in training camp and the preseason will determine whether Ward is ready to face a team like Denver in a few weeks.
