Tennessee Titans move to hire Robert Saleh as head coach
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Robert Saleh served as the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator this past season. Photo: Mike Christy/Getty Images
Nashville, meet Robert Saleh.
Why it matters: After an exhaustive search, the Tennessee Titans have tapped Saleh, 46, to serve as head coach, according to multiple reports.
Zoom in: The Titans moved to hire Saleh after interviewing him in-person on Monday. Saleh most recently served as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
State of play: The Titans cast a wide net in their coaching search, requesting first-round interviews with more candidates than any team this season, per The Athletic.
- One of the bright spots on Saleh's resume was his previous experience as a head coach, something the Titans were looking for after first-timer Brian Callahan's failure to launch.
- Saleh spent multiple seasons as head coach for the New York Jets.
Between the lines: Saleh got booted in the midst of his fourth season with the Jets. It was an uneven tenure during which the team suffered a high-profile quarterback injury and logged a 20-36 record.
- But he rebounded during the 2025 season with the 49ers and reestablished himself as a force in the NFL.
What he's saying: San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged Saleh's talent after a playoff win earlier this month, complimenting his "unbelievable" ability to succeed despite injuries that took key players out of contention.
- "Saleh's that good," Shanahan said, per The Athletic. "Regardless of what happens today or what happens next week, I know it's a matter of time before Saleh's a head coach again."
Stunning stat: The Titans' offensive struggles are well-established, but Saleh's defensive experience is needed as well.
- The Titans defense ranked 28th out of 32 teams this season in points allowed per game (28.1).
What we're watching: One of Saleh's top priorities coming to Nashville will be finding an offensive coordinator who can nurture quarterback Cam Ward and mend the tattered offensive line tasked with protecting Ward.
The bottom line: Titans fans are desperate for any signs of progress after two disastrous years near the bottom of the league. Timing is of the essence, with the team set to move into a new stadium for the 2027 season.