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Now that the Tennessee Titans have chosen Robert Saleh as their next coach, Saleh's first order of business will be assembling his staff of coordinators and assistants.
Saleh and the Titans have agreed to terms on a contract to make Saleh the franchise's next coach, as The Tennessean reported on Jan. 19, but that contract has yet to be formally announced by the team. Now Saleh's tasked with assembling a coaching staff. Saleh's first head coaching stint, leading the New York Jets from 2021-24, ended prematurely in large part because of his team's offensive shortcomings, so the defensive-minded Saleh's offensive hires will be particularly scrutinized as he takes over a franchise built on young quarterback Cam Ward's continued development.
As Saleh constructs his Tennessee Titans coaching staff, questions will also circulate about what happens to Brian Callahan and his former Titans coaching staff, most of whom are still listed as Tennessee Titans employees. Callahan and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson have interviewed for vacancies already this cycle. Former offensive line coach Bill Callahan has been hired for the same position in Atlanta under new coach Kevin Stefanski, and several other Titans assistants could be sought-after commodities as the franchise cycles through this year's search.
Keep up with all the latest news, updates and rumors about the Titans' assistant coaching search below.
Saleh and former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel have a long history together. They worked side-by-side as analysts in Houston at the beginning of their careers, and they were both integral figures on Kyle Shanahan's first 49ers staffs, with Saleh as defensive coordinator and McDaniel as run game coordinator.
Plenty of speculation linked McDaniel to Saleh's offensive coordinator vacancy in Nashville, not the least of which because McDaniel also interviewed with the Titans for the head coaching job. But as several media outlets including USA TODAY reported on Jan. 20, McDaniel is expected to accept the job as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers providing he doesn't get offered the head coaching jobs in Baltimore or Las Vegas.
McDaniel was also in the mix to be the head coach in Cleveland, but he reportedly turned down the opportunity to sit for a second interview.
Per reports on Jan. 21, the former Titans coach will take a second interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their offensive coordinator job. Callahan also interviewed with the Chargers for their OC job. Before Callahan coached the Titans, he was offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, working with Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow.
Some of the top candidates for the Titans' OC position include: Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, former Giants coach Brian Daboll, Packers senior assistant Luke Getsy, former Giants coach Mike Kafka, 49ers QB coach Mick Lombardi, former Dolphins OC Frank Smith, former Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and former Dolphins pass game specialist Bobby Slowik.
Saleh's offensive coordinators in New York were Mike LaFleur (now the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams) and Nathaniel Hackett (now an analyst for the Green Bay Packers). His defensive coordinator for all four seasons was Jeff Ulbrich, who's being retained as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator for 2026. Other prominent assistants included quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese (now with the Rams), pass game coordinator Todd Downing (formerly with the Titans, now in New England) and senior defensive assistant Tony Oden (who worked with the Titans in 2025).
Special teams coordinator John Fassel is the most prominent and most important name on the Titans' coaching staff, and retaining him has to be a top priority for Saleh. Other key names on the Titans' staff who've drawn interest elsewhere in the past or who've been talked about highly within Nashville include quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, who has a strong relationship with Ward, and tight ends coach Luke Stocker.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson interviewed for the DC vacancy with the Washington Commanders earlier in the offseason, and several of the veterans on his staff including Oden, Tracy Rocker and Frank Bush could draw consideration.
The Titans hired Saleh, 46, after a year spent in his second stint as San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. Saleh was the Jets' head coach for more than three seasons, leading the franchise to a 20-36 record before being fired five games into his fourth campaign. Saleh's teams are known for dominant defenses, both in San Francisco and New York, but his Jets tenure was also defined by putrid offensive showings and lackluster development at positions like quarterback and offensive line.
Saleh was one of 16 candidates who the Titans interviewed for their head coaching vacancy. The other finalists for the job were Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. The Atlanta Falcons hired Stefanski and the Miami Dolphins hired Hafley before the Titans could conduct finalist interviews with them.
Other candidates who the Titans interviewed include: former Dallas coach Mike McCarthy, L.A. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Miami coach Mike McDaniel, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans coordinator search tracker: News, rumors, candidates, interviews
Continue reading...
Saleh and the Titans have agreed to terms on a contract to make Saleh the franchise's next coach, as The Tennessean reported on Jan. 19, but that contract has yet to be formally announced by the team. Now Saleh's tasked with assembling a coaching staff. Saleh's first head coaching stint, leading the New York Jets from 2021-24, ended prematurely in large part because of his team's offensive shortcomings, so the defensive-minded Saleh's offensive hires will be particularly scrutinized as he takes over a franchise built on young quarterback Cam Ward's continued development.
As Saleh constructs his Tennessee Titans coaching staff, questions will also circulate about what happens to Brian Callahan and his former Titans coaching staff, most of whom are still listed as Tennessee Titans employees. Callahan and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson have interviewed for vacancies already this cycle. Former offensive line coach Bill Callahan has been hired for the same position in Atlanta under new coach Kevin Stefanski, and several other Titans assistants could be sought-after commodities as the franchise cycles through this year's search.
Keep up with all the latest news, updates and rumors about the Titans' assistant coaching search below.
Titans coaching search updates: Offensive coordinator candidates, Robert Saleh's first Titans staff
Mike McDaniel, off to Los Angeles?
Saleh and former Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel have a long history together. They worked side-by-side as analysts in Houston at the beginning of their careers, and they were both integral figures on Kyle Shanahan's first 49ers staffs, with Saleh as defensive coordinator and McDaniel as run game coordinator.
Plenty of speculation linked McDaniel to Saleh's offensive coordinator vacancy in Nashville, not the least of which because McDaniel also interviewed with the Titans for the head coaching job. But as several media outlets including USA TODAY reported on Jan. 20, McDaniel is expected to accept the job as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers providing he doesn't get offered the head coaching jobs in Baltimore or Las Vegas.
McDaniel was also in the mix to be the head coach in Cleveland, but he reportedly turned down the opportunity to sit for a second interview.
Is Brian Callahan bound for Tampa Bay?
Per reports on Jan. 21, the former Titans coach will take a second interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their offensive coordinator job. Callahan also interviewed with the Chargers for their OC job. Before Callahan coached the Titans, he was offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, working with Zac Taylor and Joe Burrow.
Titans offensive coordinator candidates
Some of the top candidates for the Titans' OC position include: Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, former Giants coach Brian Daboll, Packers senior assistant Luke Getsy, former Giants coach Mike Kafka, 49ers QB coach Mick Lombardi, former Dolphins OC Frank Smith, former Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and former Dolphins pass game specialist Bobby Slowik.
Who were on Robert Saleh's staffs with New York Jets?
Saleh's offensive coordinators in New York were Mike LaFleur (now the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams) and Nathaniel Hackett (now an analyst for the Green Bay Packers). His defensive coordinator for all four seasons was Jeff Ulbrich, who's being retained as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator for 2026. Other prominent assistants included quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese (now with the Rams), pass game coordinator Todd Downing (formerly with the Titans, now in New England) and senior defensive assistant Tony Oden (who worked with the Titans in 2025).
Which Titans assistants could be retained or go elsewhere?
Special teams coordinator John Fassel is the most prominent and most important name on the Titans' coaching staff, and retaining him has to be a top priority for Saleh. Other key names on the Titans' staff who've drawn interest elsewhere in the past or who've been talked about highly within Nashville include quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, who has a strong relationship with Ward, and tight ends coach Luke Stocker.
Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson interviewed for the DC vacancy with the Washington Commanders earlier in the offseason, and several of the veterans on his staff including Oden, Tracy Rocker and Frank Bush could draw consideration.
Who is Robert Saleh?
The Titans hired Saleh, 46, after a year spent in his second stint as San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator. Saleh was the Jets' head coach for more than three seasons, leading the franchise to a 20-36 record before being fired five games into his fourth campaign. Saleh's teams are known for dominant defenses, both in San Francisco and New York, but his Jets tenure was also defined by putrid offensive showings and lackluster development at positions like quarterback and offensive line.
Titans coaching candidates: Who else did Titans interview?
Saleh was one of 16 candidates who the Titans interviewed for their head coaching vacancy. The other finalists for the job were Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. The Atlanta Falcons hired Stefanski and the Miami Dolphins hired Hafley before the Titans could conduct finalist interviews with them.
Other candidates who the Titans interviewed include: former Dallas coach Mike McCarthy, L.A. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, former Miami coach Mike McDaniel, Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans coordinator search tracker: News, rumors, candidates, interviews
Continue reading...
