While other teams in the league are still without a head coach, the Tennessee Titans don’t have that issue. New head coach Robert Saleh is officially the top guy on the sideline for the Titans, but now he has to figure out his coaching staff for 2026 and beyond.
Saleh’s biggest challenge is landing a great offensive coordinator. The top name is Brian Daboll, but he is in the middle of the head coaching interview process for the Buffalo Bills. However, if Daboll doesn’t land that job, he is expected to be in Tennessee per Dianna Russini.
At the same time, the Titans will also need to bring in a new defensive coordinator, and Jeremy Fowler has reported that the Titans have requested to interview Cowboys defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton for the position.
Titans requested to interview Cowboys DL coach Aaron Whitecotton for their defensive coordinator opening, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 23, 2026
Whitecotton also interviewed for the Cowboys DC job and was part of new Titans coach Robert Saleh’s staff in New York. Dallas DL was among tops in QB hits. pic.twitter.com/OfwP8FCfss
Aaron Whitecotton is a clear-cut obvious choice for Robert Saleh
According to Mike Herndon, Whitecotton has worked with Saleh in Jacksonville, San Francisco, and with the Jets. The two are obviously incredibly familiar with one another. Whitecotton also coached with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi's brother Dave Borgonzi in Dallas this past season.
The comfort level is there and at this point, it would be a logical hire for Saleh and the Titans. Saleh has said that he wants to call his defense, and having someone on his staff that is familiar with it is the way to go to help him with the install and weekly duties.
Outside of Jeffrey Simmons, this Titans defense could use all the help that they need. Not only do they need to bring in more talent, but they need to have a great scheme set up to help players be successful. It would not be a surprise to see Whitecotton get this job for various factors.
At the same time, Saleh still has to find his offensive coordinator that can help Cam Ward make a jump from Year 1 to Year 2. While Daboll is a solid option, who knows how long it could be before Buffalo makes a decision. That affects Tennessee because if they can’t land Daboll, then they may miss out on other potential candidates for waiting for too long.