The Tennessee Titans finally have their new head coach. After the team cast a big net, it came down to three coaches: 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Saleh and Nagy met in person with the Titans on Monday in Nashville, and Hafley was supposed to meet with the organization there on Tuesday. Well, that shook up a little bit when Hafley agreed to be the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins on Monday, taking him out of the running for the Titans' job and leaving it to either Nagy or Saleh. Nagy met with the Titans organization earlier in the day and then Saleh met with the organization later in the day. Saleh impressed Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and Titans ownership so much that he never made it out of the city, as the Titans decided he was their guy and started hammering out a deal. So with Saleh now in place as the new head coach of the Titans, he has a couple of questions to answer.
The first question is the offense. Saleh is a defensive coordinator by trade and reports indicate he will likely run the defense this time around as a head coach. But offensively, he needs someone to take care of things and, most importantly, to help continue Cam Ward's growth. The number one overall pick from the 2025 draft started to put things together towards the end of the season, with four games in a row of at least two touchdown passes. With whoever Saleh brings in, he will have to be able to connect with Ward and continue his growth trajectory. If that happens, you can see Cam potentially taking a jump next year, and the team taking a leap with him. The good thing about Saleh and his selection is that he comes from the Shanahan coaching tree. The one guy many are thinking of is former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, but it may be a stretch to get him, as he is also in the running for head coaching jobs at the moment. But even if he does not get him, there are plenty of names and connections within that tree, and even some outside it, that can come in and be the voice Cam needs.
Secondly, it will be interesting to see the outlook of the Titans' defense under Saleh. Saleh has run a 4-3 defense during his time as a defensive coordinator. As far as the Titans, they are built for a 3-4 defense. If the Titans fully shift to a 4-3, that means T’Vondre Sweat and Jeffery Simmons will become the defensive tackles more than likely. And instead of the outside linebackers, the Titans could go to defensive ends. With the Titans having over $100 million in salary cap space, the Titans could get those defensive ends to play in that system and fit what Saleh wants to do with the Titans' defense. And along with adding defensive ends, the coverages and things will also be something new for this team. The terminology change will be something to watch to see how quickly players pick it up.
The excitement is here as the new coach has been named. And with that new coach, there will be a lot to figure out. And everyone will have a front row seat to what Saleh can do in trying to turn around a franchise that is hungry to win and get back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season.