Whenever a team hires a first-time head coach, there is always the risk that the hire will struggle with the new workload. The Tennessee Titans learned that the hard way with their Brian Callahan misfire. In response, GM Mike Borgonzi engineered a coaching search that left them with an abundance of experience to prevent that mistake from repeating.
It all starts at the top with new head coach Robert Saleh. This is obviously not Saleh's first rodeo, as he was the head coach of the New York Jets 18 months ago. He will be very familiar with the additional responsibilities that a head coach has to navigate.
The one wrinkle that could force him to make some adjustments is that Saleh will be the defensive play caller this time around. That means he has to trust that the offense will be able to manage itself with minimal oversight from the head coach.
That is why it was such a massive deal for the Titans to land Brian Daboll as the team's offensive coordinator.
Titans' coaching staff experience could lead to instant success during 2026 NFL season
Daboll is also coming off a recent stint as a head coach, but he was the offensive play caller for the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants. His experience as an offensive play caller and his experience as a head coach mean that he will understand exactly what Saleh needs him to do.
Not only does Daboll have to call plays on the offense, but he'll also have to critically analyze what is and isn't working on his unit.
The good news for him is that Saleh will be able to provide a critical eye sporadically throughout games because he hired Gus Bradley as the team's new defensive coordinator. Bradley and Saleh have worked together for years with multiple franchises, so the two have a lot of trust and mutual understanding. If something isn't working for the offense, Saleh should be able to leave the defense in Bradley's hands for a while and go give Daboll live feedback.
All of the coaches on the new Titans staff have a reputation for being great teachers who get the most out of their players, and that should excite fans. Instead of waiting six or eight games for things to start clicking, the Titans should hit the ground running. Not only does this group have a lot of experience, but they also have chemistry and previous relationships. That is crucial to making sure things go smoothly, and it means that the team has no excuse for a slow start in 2026.