When Robert Saleh was named the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, the main question immediately shifted from the head coach to the offensive coordinator. The prominent names floated were former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Both were wanted not only as offensive coordinators but as head coaching candidates, as both interviewed for multiple head coaching positions this offseason. But ultimately, McDaniel decided to head to Los Angeles to replace Greg Roman as the Chargers' offensive coordinator. As for Daboll, the rumor was that if he did not get the Buffalo Bills' head coaching job, he would be the Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator. He did not get the Bills' job, but the Las Vegas Raiders did make a run at him as their new head coach. But ultimately, Daboll decided to come to Tennessee and agreed to be the Titans' new offensive coordinator. And with the agreement in place, the staff is starting to take even more shape.
One great thing about bringing in Daboll is that he is a coach who sees the specialness in Ward. The talented number one overall pick from 2025 had Daboll’s attention before the NFL Draft and wanted to trade for him. Unfortunately for him, during his tenure with the Giants, they were unable to make a sweet enough deal to secure the number one overall pick. But that did not diminish the fact that Daboll was enamoured of the talent he saw in Ward. With that eagerness to work with Ward and Ward's willingness to take tough coaching, this battery could work out well, producing not only better offensive results but also growth in Ward and his abilities.
And with Daboll, it isn’t just about the tough coaching and loving what Ward can do; he produces results. For example, when Daboll was the offensive coordinator for Josh Allen from 2018-2022, Daboll took Josh Allen from an inaccurate quarterback with physical ability to a quarterback who threw back-to-back seasons of 30-plus touchdowns along with a completion percentage above 60%, including a 2020 season with a career-high 69.2% completion percentage along with a career-high 37 touchdown passes. Daboll is known for working on mechanics with young quarterbacks and for enhancing decision-making and utilizing Run-Pass Options (RPOs) to develop his quarterbacks' talent and ability. With Daboll being the offensive coordinator, look for Ward to not only have a spike in his touchdown stats, but also look for his mechanics to be better and his accuracy to improve as well.
But along with Daboll and what he can do for Ward, he gives Robert Saleh a coach he can entrust with the offense and not worry about. Daboll has shown he can be trusted to run an offense and produce. With Saleh intending to call the defense as the head coach, it gives him fewer things to worry about, as he trusts the hands the offense is in. Although it may not be conventional, a head coach running one side of the ball and giving the other side of the ball has worked in many instances. One recent example is that Saleh just left as the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, where Kyle Shanahan was calling the plays as the head coach. And if you look at that pairing, it worked pretty well, with the 49ers overachieving this year with all their injuries, going 12-5 and making it to the NFC Divisional Round. Both worked together seamlessly and created a great environment and that is what Daboll and Saleh could do.
No one could imagine that two former head coaches of New York franchises would come together on one team, but that is what has happened in Tennessee. As Saleh, the head coach of the Jets from 2021 until five games into the 2024 season, is not united with Daboll, the head coach of the New York Giants from 2022 to mid-season 2025, they have united in the Music City. For the Titans and their fans, this Gotham City reunion is hoped to lead to a resurgence of the franchise.