Titans To Interview Dino Vasso For DC Job
A third name has emerged on the list of candidates for the Titans‘ defensive coordinator position. The team will look into a staffer from within the AFC South. 
Tennessee has lined up an interview with Texans defensive backs coach Dino Vasso, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This marks the first sign of interest in Vasso’s case regarding a coordinator vacancy. He was not on the DC radar previously in the 2026 hiring cycle or any others.
After a brief start to his coaching career at the college level, Vasso received his first NFL opportunity with the Chiefs in 2013. Three years as an assistant in Kansas City was followed by a move to the Eagles. Vasso worked his way up to assistant defensive coordinator, a role he held in 2020. For the past five years, he has been on the Texans’ staff.
Vasso initially joined the Texans as a cornerbacks coach; he held that role for three years. The 38-year-old’s purview was expanded slightly in 2024 with his title shifting to defensive backs coach. The Texans’ defense has certainly benefited from strong play in the secondary during recent years, and Rapoport notes both Jim Schwartz and Matt Burke have offered endorsements for Vasso.
Those strong reviews will now result in at least one interview for a coordinator position. The Titans hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach earlier this week. Shortly thereafter, it was confirmed defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson was among the coaches who will not return as part of the new staff. Saleh’s defensive background could see him call plays on that side of the ball with his new team, but even in that event his DC hire will be key. It would be interesting if Saleh were to tap a first-time D-coordinator as part of his initial staff.
Of course, the Titans’ other candidates at this point – Aaron Whitecotton (Cowboys) and Al Harris (Bears) – have never been an NFL coordinator either. Vasso will join those two in seeking out an initial opportunity in Tennessee.
Titans To Interview Al Harris For DC; Interview Requested With Cowboys’ Aaron Whitecotton
With multiple teams in search of a defensive coordinator, Bears defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Al Harris has become a popular candidate. He’ll interview for the Titans’ defensive coordinator opening on Saturday, Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports. The 51-year-old previously met with the Packers and Commanders.
Harris, who enjoyed a long and productive playing career as a cornerback from 1997-2011, went into coaching as an intern with the Dolphins in 2012. The two-time Pro Bowler has gradually climbed up the ranks since then.
Before heading to Chicago this season, Harris assisted with NFL secondaries in Kansas City and Dallas. Harris has cut his teeth working with accomplished coordinators in Bob Sutton, Mike Zimmer, Dan Quinn and Dennis Allen.
The Bears’ pass defense ranked an underwhelming 22nd in 2025, but they had to navigate most of the season without two of their best cornerbacks, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Although Johnson and Gordon combined to miss 24 games, the Bears racked up an NFL-best 23 interceptions during an NFC North-winning campaign. Safety Kevin Byard earned a Pro Bowl nod, while corner Nahshon Wright unexpectedly forced seven turnovers (five INTs, two fumbles) after the former Cowboy and Viking settled for a modest one-year deal in free agency last offseason.
Unlike the Bears, the Titans struggled mightily to generate turnovers in 2025. Tennessee’s defense took the ball away 14 times, the fifth-lowest total in the league, and also finished near the bottom in yards (21st) and points (28th) allowed. Just a couple days after becoming the Titans’ head coach, Robert Saleh fired defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson on Thursday.
While Saleh now has his eyes on Harris for the D-coordinator post, he’ll also consider longtime colleague and current Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton. The Titans have requested an interview with Whitecotton, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Saleh and Whitecotton have worked together at multiple stops. It began when the two were on Jacksonville’s defensive staff from 2014-16. Then the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2020, Saleh hired Whitecotton to coach the D-line. Saleh then brought Whitecotton to New York when he became the Jets’ head coach in 2021. The Jets fired Saleh in October 2024, but Whitecotton finished the year in New York. After the Cowboys fired Matt Eberflus on Jan. 6, Whitecotton was among the interviewees for their DC gig. They hired Christian Parker instead, leaving Whitecotton’s future up in the air after just one season in Dallas.
While Harris and Whitecotton don’t have any D-coordinator experience, that’s not a requirement for Tennessee. Saleh has already made it known he’ll call the defensive plays in 2026. That should make it easier for a first-time coordinator to adjust to the role.
Titans Speak With Steelers’ Arthur Smith About OC Position
With new head coach Robert Saleh working to assemble his staff in Tennessee, the Titans could turn to a familiar face at offensive coordinator. They’ve spoken with Steelers OC and former Titans assistant Arthur Smith about the position, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Smith, 43, was among the coaches the Titans interviewed for their HC job, but he did not rank among their finalists. The Titans ultimately chose Saleh out of a group that also included Matt Nagy and Jeff Hafley. After Hafley agreed to become the Dolphins’ head coach on Monday evening, the Titans hired Saleh several hours later.
Saleh is now on the lookout for an experienced O-coordinator to work with quarterback Cam Ward, and Smith fits the bill. The Memphis-born Smith, who worked in various roles with the Titans from 2011-20, is a two-time NFL offensive coordinator (with the Titans from 2019-20 and the Steelers since 2024). He had a three-year run as the Falcons’ head coach from 2021-23 between his OC stints.
Smith struggled to a 21-30 record in Atlanta, which hired him after he impressed as an assistant under Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. The Titans’ offense was top 10 in scoring in back-to-back seasons under Smith, who guided the unit to a fourth-place ranking in that category and a second-place position in yards in 2020. QB Ryan Tannehill enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, while running back Derrick Henry eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark on the ground, and wide receivers A.J. Brown and Corey Davis posted solid production.
After the Falcons fired him, Smith resurfaced on Mike Tomlin‘s staff in Pittsburgh. While he’s still a Steelers employee, Smith’s future is uncertain after Tomlin’s resignation. It seems likely he’ll end up elsewhere in 2026. Regardless, it’s fair to say the Steelers have produced middling-at-best results under Smith. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as their signal-callers in 2024, the Steelers finished 16th in scoring and 23rd in total offense. They were a similar 15th and 25th, respectively, in those categories with Aaron Rodgers under center this season.
The Steelers haven’t surrounded their QBs with great supporting casts over the past couple of years, and that’s even more true in the Titans’ case. Ward, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, took a league-high 55 sacks as a rookie. Between the struggles of the Titans’ O-line, instability on the sidelines, and a lack of weapons in the passing game (none of the team’s pass catchers reached the 600-yard mark), Ward unsurprisingly endured a difficult rookie year as part of a 3-14 campaign.
Nick Holz, whom Saleh will not retain, acted as a non-play-calling OC for the Titans in 2025. QBs coach Bo Hardegree called the plays, but either Smith or another outside candidate is expected to take on that role next season.
Titans To Retain STC John Fassel; Team Firing Dennard Wilson, Nick Holz
New coaches coming in regularly leads to coordinator changes. Kevin Stefanski‘s decision to retain Jeff Ulbrich as Falcons DC is the exception, not the rule. It should come as no surprise, then, that Robert Saleh is starting anew with his top coordinator positions.
Saleh will not retain Titans OC Nick Holz or DC Dennard Wilson, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. Both were Brian Callahan hires who finished out the season in their respective roles, with Callahan being fired in October. Saleh, however, is not canning the entire staff.
[RELATED: 2026 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
John Fassel is staying on as special teams coordinator, Kuharsky adds. Also a Callahan hire, Fassel carries considerable experience. The former Raiders, Rams and Cowboys’ ST coordinator (and Los Angeles interim HC), Fassel joined the Titans in 2025. His contract runs for at least one more season, per Kuharsky.
The son of former Giants HC Jim Fassel, John has been an NFL ST coordinator since 2008. The Rams retained him in the role for eight seasons (2012-19), while the Cowboys employed him as such for the next five. It was believed Fassel had clamored for a head coaching interview, joining Wilson in that regard, but nothing happened. Still, he will be back under new leadership.
It is certainly not surprising to see Holz go. Saleh presented a detailed plan to ownership about Cam Ward‘s development, including what would happen if another team hired a Titans OC as a head coach. Holz served as a non-play-calling OC, to the point he was passed over for the role when Callahan’s job was in jeopardy and when he was fired. QBs coach Bo Hardegree finished the season as Tennessee’s play-caller. Holz, 41, spent 10 years on the Raiders’ staff before working as UNLV’s OC (2022) and Jaguars pass-game coordinator (2023). Brian Daboll is believed to be squarely on the radar for this job, though it is understandably his second choice — behind the Bills’ HC post.
Wilson, 43, called Titans defensive plays for the past two seasons. He has been a bigger name than Holz on the coaching circuit, interviewing for the Packers, Giants and Rams’ positions in 2024 and speaking with the Commanders about their current vacancy. The Titans ranked 30th and 28th in scoring defense over the past two years, respectively, but Wilson’s unit did rank second in yardage in 2024. Tennessee crashed down to 21st there in 2025.
Wilson is believed to have suitors about a 2026 landing spot, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard, who matches him to the Giants. New York preferred either Wilson or Bobby Babich to ex-Titans DC Shane Bowen in 2024. Wilson worked for John Harbaugh as Ravens DBs coach in 2023. He has not interviewed for that position, but it would not surprise if Harbaugh wanted to meet with him. Ex-Ravens assistant Anthony Weaver has also come up about that DC post. Ditto Daronte Jones, who will not be promoted to Vikings DC unless Brian Flores — extended this week — lands a head coaching gig.
Additionally, the Titans are not retaining defensive assistant Lori Locust, Kuharsky notes. One of a handful of female assistant coaches around the league, Locust was a Mike Vrabel holdover who also worked as the Buccaneers’ assistant defensive line coach from 2019-22.
Titans Seeking Experienced OC
Almost every head coaching candidate the Titans spoke to had experience in the position at the NFL level. Robert Saleh‘s staff will unsurprisingly target a veteran play-caller on offense as well. 
So far, the Titans have been connected to former head coaches Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll with respect to their offensive coordinator position. Daboll’s top OC destination appears to be Tennessee, although he is also interested in returning to the Bills as their head coach. The list of Titans targets is set to expand shortly.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Tennessee’s options include former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Packers OC Adam Stenavich and Dolphins pass-game coordinator Bobby Slowik. Each have them has been a coordinator at the pro level before, and all but Stenavich have called plays during at least one NFL stint.
Kingsbury has conducted multiple head coaching interviews recently, and he was among the staffers linked to Tennessee in that regard. The former Cardinals HC also met with the Ravens about their offensive coordinator position. Without a hire taking place on either front, Kingsbury remains on the market at this point. His NFL stints have included time overseeing the development of quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels, and working closely with Cam Ward during his second year and beyond will be a top priority for any OC hire.
Smith also met with the Titans early in their head coaching search. The 43-year-old was then linked to OC vacancies in Detroit and Los Angeles. The Lions and Chargers (provided Mike McDaniel does not land a head coaching position) have filled them, however. Smith thus looms as another offensive coordinator option with experience not only as a play-caller but as a head coach as well.
Slowik, 39, followed DeMeco Ryans from San Francisco to Houston in 2023. During his two seasons as the Texans’ offensive coordinator, Slowik’s unit ranked 13th and then 19th in scoring. He received an interview request from the Eagles, but one could also be coming shortly from the Titans. Stenavich has been with the Packers since Matt LaFleur‘s arrival in 2019. For the past four seasons, he has operated as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator (albeit without calling plays).
The Titans ranked 30th in total and scoring offense in 2025. Improving on the team’s showing under former head coach Brian Callahan and interim replacement Mike McCoy will be a major priority for next season, and a veteran OC will likely be leaned on to lead the way.
Giants Would Not Have Changed Reporting Structure For Another HC; Titans, John Harbaugh Remained In Contact
The Giants considered other candidates, but this year’s first team to make a hire made no secret of John Harbaugh‘s frontrunner status. After a near-three-day delay, the longtime Ravens coach officially took the reins with the Giants on Saturday.
A key part of the delay stemmed from reporting structure. The Giants had previously had their head coach report to the GM, who in turn reported to ownership. Harbaugh confirmed last week he will join GM Joe Schoen in reporting to ownership. Had the Giants hired another coach, however, senior personnel consultant Chris Mara said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) the team would not have signed off on that coach reporting directly to ownership.
Mara also indicated the Giants wanted the deal done before playoff teams could make strong pitches. We heard of potential Bills and Packers interest; the Buffalo job is now available. Mara and Harbaugh had not met before a summit at the coach’s home, but the two have been regularly communicating since that initial meeting. Chris Mara is taking on more responsibilities with brother John Mara battling cancer.
Harbaugh carried considerable leverage, being the rumored favorite in a few cities. The Titans had a big offer prepared, but the Giants convinced the high-profile coaching free agent not to take that meeting. The Falcons did meet with Harbaugh virtually but were unable to schedule a second interview.
A high Giants salary, believed to be around $20MM per year, played into that. The Giants made a strong first offer, per The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, who reports New York initially came in at $18.5MM AAV. O’Connor confirms Harbaugh will make $20MM per year; that sits $13MM north of what the Giants were paying Brian Daboll.
The Giants and Harbaugh entered negotiations about a deal on January 15, but the sides did not have a signed agreement until Jan. 18. Although Harbaugh had canceled his Titans in-person interview, O’Connor reports the AFC South team remained in communication with the coach’s camp during the time between his Giants talks and the agreement becoming official. Other teams wondered if the delay in Harbaugh finalizing his Giants deal meant there was trouble afoot, and O’Connor adds at least one other club was set to make a nine-figure offer to the Super Bowl-winning HC if his Giants talks fizzled. The Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski hours after the official Harbaugh agreement; the Titans hired Robert Saleh on Monday night.
A Friday report indicated Schoen’s status served as an impediment during the Giants’ negotiations, but Harbaugh is signed to work with the fifth-year GM. Schoen confirmed Tuesday (via Duggan) he is “not worried” about both he and Harbaugh reporting to ownership, though this is a major change in Giants business.
Schoen is coming off three straight double-digit loss seasons, but Giants ownership let him run the coaching search. No Trent Baalke-like situation formed, as the Giants were able to bring Harbaugh aboard with Schoen still employed. Though, this partnership will be worth monitoring given Harbaugh’s power.
As the Giants-Harbaugh talks dragged on, the coach and Chris Mara met at an undisclosed location Friday, O’Connor adds. Though, Harbaugh did respond with a shrug emoji (to The Athletic) in a text message regarding his belief he would end up as Giants HC as of Friday night. The Giants’ reporting structure had been in place dating back to Bill Parcells, who reported to Hall of Fame GM George Young. Fellow two-time Super Bowl winner Tom Coughlin reported to Ernie Accorsi and then Jerry Reese, but Harbaugh possessed enough leverage to convince the Giants to change up. Coughlin helped arrange one of the Harbaugh-Mara meetings, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes.
While Harbaugh called the reporting structure issue “overblown,” it is clear this was important to the second-chance HC. Mara added (via Raanan) Harbaugh does not have true final say, calling it “collaborative.” It would still stand to reason Harbaugh will hold the hammer over Schoen, given the latter’s struggles and the Giants altering their long-held workflow.
“I know that’s a big deal around here: ‘Final say,'” Mara said. “[Harbaugh] doesn’t have final say. It’s collaborative, and he’s the first to admit that. If he has final say with everything in that building, he wouldn’t be able to do his job. He’s going to be the most important cog in the wheel. Let’s put it that way. But in terms of final say, this is going to be a collaborative effort between ownership, general manager and coach.”
Schoen said (via Duggan) no Ravens front office staffers, as of now, are following Harbaugh to New York. Front office contracts generally run through the draft, though, so May could be a more notable point on the calendar with regards to any Baltimore-to-New York treks. But the Giants will be expected to target ex-Ravens in free agency, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes.
Baltimore has some notable players unsigned for 2026. All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum has been a Ravens priority, but he is not a franchise tag candidate due to the tag formula grouping all O-line salaries together. This leads to guards being rarely tagged; centers always skate to free agency. Baltimore also has guard starter Daniel Faalele, tight end Isaiah Likely, safety Ar’Darius Washington and fullback Patrick Ricard set for free agency.
The Giants have used John Michael Schmitz as their starting center since drafting him in the 2023 second round, but the Minnesota product has not graded well yet. Linderbaum will be one of the most coveted free agents available if he reaches the market. With Todd Monken likely to become the Giants’ OC, an aggressive Linderbaum pursuit would make sense. While the veteran wants to stay in Baltimore, he and the Ravens were not close on a deal as of mid-November. The Ravens have exclusive negotiating rights with pending UFAs until the legal tampering period begins March 9.
Details On Titans’ Robert Saleh Hire
Although a report on Monday pegged Matt Nagy as the frontunner for the Titans’ head coaching position, the team instead hired Robert Saleh several hours later. Nagy and Saleh joined then-Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as the Titans’ finalists, according to insider Jordan Schultz, who reveals the team never seriously considered Mike McCarthy despite interviewing him
Tennessee lost one of its finalists when the Dolphins hired Hafley as their head coach on Monday evening. Saleh, meanwhile, entered his Monday interview with the Titans needing to “win the job,” Albert Breer of SI.com writes.
In successfully landing the role, the former 49ers defensive coordinator secured a five-year contract, per Schultz. Because Saleh’s second stint in San Francisco only lasted one year, the 49ers will not receive draft compensation for losing him, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes.
Saleh’s summit with the Titans included a three-hour meeting with general manager Mike Borgonzi, president of football operations Chad Brinker, and several other members of their front office, Breer relays. Borgonzi made the recommendation to hire Saleh after his successful pitch to team brass.
Saleh impressed the group with a “detailed plan” on working with quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. That included ideas on putting together the right offensive staff to maximize Ward’s potential. Saleh’s looking for a “CEO-type” offensive coordinator, Schultz says.
We already know Saleh’s offensive staff will not include Mike McDaniel, who developed a strong bond with Saleh when they coached together in San Francisco from 2017-20. Although Saleh had been in contact with McDaniel (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN), the latter is on the cusp of becoming the Chargers’ offensive coordinator.
Given Ward’s importance to the organization, the Titans wanted all of their head coaching candidates to present a plan for Ward, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. With Saleh now in charge and McDaniel about to come off the board, former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly in the mix to take over as Ward’s next offensive coordinator.
The Titans interviewed Daboll for their head coaching job, but he may wind up taking on a key role as an assistant with the team. However, Daboll has another suitor in the Eagles, who are interested in him for their O-coordinator opening. He’s also a potential candidate for Buffalo’s head coaching job, which became available when the team unexpectedly fired Sean McDermott on Monday. Daboll spent 2018-21 as the Bills’ OC and aided in developing Josh Allen into an elite signal-caller. In bringing in Daboll to help Ward, the Titans would hope for similar results.
If Daboll doesn’t join Saleh’s staff, Breer identifies former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury, Rams OC Mike LaFleur and Steelers OC Arthur Smith as other possibilities.
Kingsbury helped guide 2024 second overall pick Jayden Daniels to stellar results as a rookie, but multiple injuries largely prevented the dual-threat QB from building on that success this season. After Daniels played in just seven games in 2025, Kingsbury and the Commanders parted ways. Kingsbury has since drawn the attention of teams looking for head coaches and offensive coordinators.
LaFleur also worked with Saleh in San Francisco, though Breer is skeptical he’ll leave Los Angeles this offseason. Interestingly, LaFleur’s brother, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, played a role in the Titans’ decision to hire Saleh. After the Jets fired him as their head coach in October 2024, Saleh ended the season on LaFleur’s staff as an offensive consultant. LaFleur, one of Saleh’s closest friends, provided the Titans helpful feedback during their search.
Smith, a Nashville native, also interviewed for the Titans’ HC gig. Previously a Titans assistant from 2011-20, Smith held the OC role in his last two years with the organization before a three-season run as the Falcons’ head coach. While Smith is still on Pittsburgh’s staff, Mike Tomlin‘s resignation casts doubt on his future with the team.
Saleh will spend the coming weeks assembling his staff, a group he hopes will help produce better results than he generated in New York. The Jets canned Saleh after he posted an unsightly 20-36 record over three-plus seasons. While Saleh didn’t call the defensive plays with the Jets, that will change in his new home, which helps give the Titans confidence the 46-year-old will capitalize on his second chance as a head coach.
Saleh’s “energy and presence” helped win over owner Amy Adams Strunk, whose previous head coaching hire, Brian Callahan, contributed to the franchise’s recent slide. Now stuck in a four-year playoff drought, the Titans have gone a woeful 19-49 since 2022.
Brian Daboll “In The Mix” For Titans OC Job?
Robert Saleh could potentially turn to his former New York counterpart to fill his offensive coordinator role. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo believes that Brian Daboll is in the mix for the Titans offensive coordinator job. Jonathan Jones of NFL on CBS also reported this connection earlier today.
Daboll interviewed for the Titans head coaching gig but ultimately lost out to Saleh, who reportedly came to an agreement with the franchise last night. Still, that factor may not dissuade the former Giants head coach from taking a job on Tennessee’s staff.
Per Garafolo, Daboll is one of several available OC candidates who “does like what he sees” with the Titans. Garafolo cites several factors that could be alluring to potential hires. Obviously, 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward leads that list, but the reporter also points to the team’s abundance of cap space, high draft picks, and new NFL stadium. In fact, it was those factors that led the Titans to finish second in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, according to Garafolo.
Thanks to the attractive situation in Tennessee, Saleh will have “some cards” that he can use when recruiting his new staff to the Titans. If the new head coach wants an experienced name to guide his offense, Daboll would certainly fit the bill. The 50-year-old has held several OC jobs throughout his NFL career, including stops with the Browns, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Bills. He didn’t see the same offensive success during his head coaching gig with the Giants, although he did have to start eight different QBs during his four years in New York.
With Mike McDaniel off the board after taking the Chargers OC job, Daboll would now be one of the hottest names left on the market. The coach is still in the running for the Eagles OC job, and he may emerge as a HC candidate in Buffalo. While he doesn’t have a true connection to the Titans, Garafolo notes that he formed a friendship with Saleh while the two were coaching in New York. Now, they could both land on the same staff in Tennessee.
Falcons Hire Bill Callahan As OL Coach
New Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is starting to build his new staff, and his first major hire is a reunion with offensive line coach Bill Callahan, per team reporter Tori McElhaney.
Callahan, 69, is one of the most respected OL coaches in the NFL. He has coached for nine different teams, including Stefanski’s Browns from 2020 to 2023. In 2024, he followed his son and then-Browns offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, to Tennessee when he was hired as the Titans’ head coach.
Callahan’s offensive line ranked fifth and sixth in sacks allowed during his two seasons as their coach despite the team’s investments in the unit. That was representative of the entire offense, though, as their quarterbacks had a tendency to hold onto the ball for too long, partially because receivers were not open downfield.
When the Titans fired Brian Callahan in October, his father unsurprisingly left the team shortly after. In another predictable move, he followed Stefanski to Atlanta, something that was referenced by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo shortly after Stefanski was hired.
In Atlanta, Callahan will replace Dwayne Ledford, who was also the Falcons’ run game coordinator. He is expected to draw interest around the league, per Garafolo. Perhaps he could follow Arthur Smith, the coach who brought him into the NFL in 2021 after 15 years at the college level, to his next destination.
Stefanski is expected to take other Browns assistants with him. At the top of his list is offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, who will likely take the same job in Atlanta
Titans Hire Robert Saleh As HC
Robert Saleh was expected to be choosey with his second head coaching opportunity, but the 49ers’ defensive coordinator has made a decision to dive back in after one season. The Titans are hiring Saleh as their next head coach, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since confirmed the news.
Saleh, 46, impressed the team’s decision-makers during his interview Monday in Tennessee. He was originally scheduled to speak with the team virtually on Sunday, but the two sides pivoted to an in-person meeting that could not take place until the following day due to league hiring rules.
The race appeared to be down to Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who was set for his own in-person interview with the Titans on Tuesday. Nagy was the rumored frontrunner as of Monday afternoon, though Saleh was on the radar as a finalist over the weekend. Saleh won over owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Mike Borgonzi to become a head coach for the second time in his career. Saleh had an in-person interview with the Cardinals on Tuesday, but the Titans have convinced him to pass on that meeting.
Borgonzi was leaning toward Nagy, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, but ownership’s preference for Saleh ultimately (and unsurprisingly) won out. Davenport sent a follow-up tweet clarifying Saleh impressed Borgonzi, who then voiced his support for this hire rather than reuniting with Nagy. Considering Strunk’s recent history with hirings and firings, it will be interesting to learn if Borgonzi was leaning strongly in the direction of hiring his former Chiefs coworker. Both Nagy and Saleh were second-chance candidates. The Titans interviewed or sought to interview 15 such options, prioritizing experience.
Saleh’s first opportunity as a head coach came with the Jets. Like his new job in Tennessee, the New York stint followed a successful run as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, a position Saleh first held from 2017 to 2020. He was Kyle Shanahan‘s first hire when he took over as San Francisco’s head coach, and the two worked together to turn the league’s bottom-ranked defense into one of its best. By 2019, the transformation was complete, and another strong year in 2020 turned Saleh into one of the hottest head coaching candidates in the 2021 hiring cycle.
The Jets swooped in with a five-year contract, and Saleh moved to New York with the goal of turning the hapless franchise around. But, like several other coaches before him, he could not get the job done with the AFC’s Big Apple franchise. He finished with a 20-36 record before he was fired midway through the 2024 season, his fourth as head coach.
Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was heavily impacted by the team’s inability to land a solid quarterback. General manager Joe Douglas used the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft to select Zach Wilson, but the BYU product never came close to meeting his billing.
New York’s offense, coordinated by fellow ex-Shanahan assistant Mike LaFleur, struggled through two seasons with Wilson as a starter before Douglas pivoted to Aaron Rodgers in 2023. As part of their play for the MVP quarterback, the team mutually agreed to part ways with LaFleur to recruit former Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett immediately after his disastrous year as the Broncos’ head coach. Rodgers tore his Achilles on the fourth Jets offensive play of the 2023 season, and the Jets’ offense collapsed with Wilson back under center.
On defense, however, Saleh was able to replicate his work in San Francisco. The Jets finished 32nd in points and yards allowed in his debut year and fourth in both categories in his second. Another strong year in 2023 was wasted after Rodgers’ injury, and Saleh was then fired after a 2-3 start in 2024. Many saw the decision from owner Woody Johnson as an unfair one, as Douglas had been the driving force between acquiring Wilson and Rodgers. Saleh did not receive a full season with the latter, and his 7-10 showings with Wilson under center have aged pretty well.
Saleh signed on as a consultant with the Packers for the rest of the 2024 season before returning to San Francisco in the offseason to retake his former job. The 49ers’ defense did not have the same statistical results in 2025 as their previous top seasons under Saleh, but he coached his way through injuries to several key players. San Francisco lost All-Pros Nick Bosa and Fred Warner early in the season but still finished 12-5 and stifled the Eagles’ offense in the first round of the playoffs. The 49ers, who also lost first-round defensive end Mykel Williams, finished last in sacks but still ranked 13th in points allowed. Though Saleh’s defense allowed just 281 yards in the divisional round, turnovers from San Francisco’s offense led to a 41-6 victory by the Seahawks.
Saleh will have a chance to shape a franchise that does not have many long-term cornerstones outside of rookie quarterback Cam Ward and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Tennessee is projected by OverTheCap to have almost $100MM in 2026 cap space and is slated for the fourth pick in April’s draft.
Saleh’s first order of business will be filling his new staff. His long history in the NFL gives him plenty of relationships with other coaches around the league, especially those also branching off of Shanahan’s tree. Saleh will likely prioritize hiring his offensive coordinator, as he is expected to call defensive plays in Tennessee, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. In New York, he handed that job off to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and though the unit excelled, Saleh felt disconnected from the game, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could be the first name on Saleh’s list of OC candidates. The two worked together in San Francisco, with McDaniel staying one year longer before he took the job in Miami. They could reunite in Tennessee, per SNY’s Connor Hughes, which would create one of the most exciting head coach-coordinator duos in the league.
Saleh and McDaniel worked together for four seasons in San Francisco. The latter is still up for HC jobs and has been tied to a few OC positions as well. He would certainly be a prime option to coach Ward given his success revitalizing Tua Tagovailoa‘s career earlier this decade.
Connected to the Tennessee job since Brian Callahan‘s firing, Nagy suddenly stands on unstable terrain. He coached this season without a contract for 2026, and the Chiefs hired his predecessor — Eric Bieniemy — to replace him as OC today. It had looked like Nagy would land in Nashville for a bit, and a second interview being scheduled only reaffirmed that expectation. Now, Nagy — who returned to Kansas City as quarterbacks coach under Bieniemy in 2022 before replacing him in ’23 — is a coaching free agent.
Strunk has struggled with big-picture decisions in recent years. She famously fired GM Jon Robinson months after extending him and then fired Mike Vrabel following the 2023 season. She refrained from a true attempt to trade Vrabel in order to get in on the 2024 HC market from the jump. Her Callahan hire backfired, with the Titans giving him only 23 games. Strunk also fired GM Ran Carthon after two years, hiring Borgonzi. The latter snared roster control from president of football ops Chad Brinker after the 2025 season and ran the coaching search.
It is rather interesting to see the Titans hire Saleh before meeting with Nagy a second time, but they will head in a defensive direction — as they did with Vrabel — with Saleh becoming Borgonzi’s first hire as a GM.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.