For years, the Tennessee Titans have searched for offensive consistency without ever finding a true identity. Coordinators came and went, philosophies shifted, and progress often stalled at the quarterback position. The hire of Brian Daboll feels different because of the Titans' history on the offensive side of the football.
Daboll arrives with a resume that includes transforming struggling offenses, tailoring systems to quarterback strengths, and producing tangible results at the NFL’s highest levels. For a franchise that has rarely prioritized offensive innovation, this move signals a philosophical shift. It’s not just about play-calling anymore. It’s about structure, development, and finally committing to modern offense-building.
What makes Brian Daboll different from past Titans OCs
Daboll’s greatest value isn’t a specific scheme; it’s adaptability to the personnel he is presented with. Throughout his career, he’s built offenses around personnel rather than forcing players into rigid systems. His success in developing Josh Allen into one of the NFL's best quarterbacks stands out.
In his last stint as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, Daboll orchestrated the 2nd-ranked offense in yards and scoring in 2020. He followed that up with the 3rd-best offense in scoring and 5th-best in yards during the 2021 season. For comparison, only one Titans offense in the history of the franchise since their move to Nashville has ranked in the top five in both categories.
The 2020 Titans offense, led by Arthur Smith calling plays and Ryan Tannehill at quarterback, ranked 4th in points and 2nd in yards that season. The 1993 Oilers were the last offense in the franchise's history to rank in the top five in both scoring and yards. Who was the starting quarterback for that Oilers team? Warren Moon. Whose jersey number did Moon gift out of retirement? Current Titans' quarterback Cam Ward.
Daboll had a chance to coach Josh Allen early in his career, and will now get to coach the quarterback he sought in last year's draft as head coach of the New York Giants in Cam Ward. For the Titans, this represents something they’ve lacked: an offensive coordinator capable of growing with a young quarterback while elevating the entire unit.
Daboll’s presence also changes how Tennessee will likely approach roster construction, free agency, and even game management. This isn’t just a short-term fix; it’s an infrastructure upgrade at its highest order. If the Titans fully commit to Daboll’s philosophy (which all signs point to being the case), the ripple effects could reshape the offense for years to come.