Even though the NFL is always looking for the next offensive-minded genius that could take over a team, having a defensive-minded coach brings toughness and stability on the side of the ball that is tasked to slow down some of the best offenses in the league. The Tennessee Titans moved on from Brian Callahan, whose specialty is on offense, and now they have a defensive-minded coach in Robert Saleh.
Saleh will be looking to take Tennessee's defense and vastly improve it in his first year. Everyone knows what Saleh can do with a defense to make them elite. Whether it was in San Francisco or New York, Saleh has done a fantastic job with his units. Tennessee will be looking to see that magic from him in 2026, but it won’t be an easy task.
Even though the Titans have a favorable schedule this season, they will still be facing some of the best head coach/quarterback duos which will test Saleh throughout his first year in Nashville.
Robert Saleh set to be tested big time against top HC/QB duos in 2026
Lou Scataglia from NFL Spin Zone recently put together a list of the top HC/QB duos going into the 2026 season, and there are three pairings that will take on the Titans:
Jalen Hurts & Nick Sirianni: Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2)
Joe Burrow & Zac Taylor: Cincinnati Bengals (Week 8)
Jared Goff & Dan Campbell: Detroit Lions (Week 14)
The face of the franchise in Cincinnati is one of the best quarterbacks when healthy, which has been a big reason why the Bengals have not been as successful since their surprising Super Bowl appearance in 2021-2022. Zac Taylor does face pressure in 2026, but having a healthy Burrow would make everything easier.
The Eagles will be the Titans’ first major test for Saleh. Even though they had problems on offense last year and no longer have A.J. Brown on the roster, they still have plenty of playmakers. This includes Jalen Hurts, who provides the rushing ability to hurt defenses. As for Sirianni, you could make the case that he is also on the hot seat if the Eagles fall short in the playoffs again.
The offense for the Lions took a bit of a step backwards in 2025 after Ben Johnson left for the Chicago Bears, but they will be looking to rebound with a new offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing. Either way, we can’t ignore the impact that Jared Goff and Dan Campbell have had with the Lions. They have helped establish a winning culture and they should very well be a playoff team in 2026.
For as great as Saleh is a defensive playcaller, this is a new team that he will be in control of. There will be some growing pains, but Saleh has the capability to make this defense stand their ground against some of the best offenses in the league.
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