The Tennessee Titans remain in the process of finalizing the shortlist for their upcoming head coaching search. General manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the interview process, with help from president Chad Brinker and other notable front-office assistants. The Titans can begin interviewing candidates in January once Week 18 concludes.
A ton of potential candidates have been mentioned ranging from Mike McCarthy to Matt Nagy. There's one option that is going mostly undiscussed in the media. Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver possesses stronger ties to the vacancy than you may realize.
Weaver was briefly mentioned as a potential candidate by The Athletic's Dianna Russini back in October. His name hasn't really gained significant traction in Titans media circles, however. Weaver will probably end up interviewing with the Titans due to the connections he possesses to the front office.
Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver has strong ties to Titans' head coaching vacancy
Though his name isn't often floated as a popular or exciting coaching candidate, Weaver is viewed differently in NFL circles. He was a finalist for the New Orleans Saints' vacancy last cycle, having interviewed multiple times before losing out to Kellen Moore. Titans assistant general manager Dave Ziegler likely played a role in Weaver's standing in New Orleans.
Ziegler spent the 2024 season as a full-time personnel member of the Saints' front office. He officially joined the Titans in late January (2025), roughly two weeks before New Orleans hired Moore. Given that the Saints' head-coaching search was a multi-month affair, it's safe to assume Ziegler played a role in the initial process that identified Weaver.
Weaver has another strong connection to the Titans. Current vice president Reggie McKenzie spent the 2024 season alongside Weaver in Miami. Both Ziegler and McKenzie could recommend him to Borgonzi. He's also worked with several current Titans staffers, including John "Bones" Fassel, Dennard Wilson and Frank Bush.
McKenzie and Ziegler will undoubtedly play a role in the Titans' head coaching search. Borgonzi routinely compliments both of them for the behind-the-scenes work they do as his support staff. Remember, the Titans aren't hiring a search firm to assist with the process. They are relying on their in-house resources.
Weaver's defense ranks 19th in yards (334.5) and 15th in points (22.8) allowed this season. Those are fairly strong numbers given the Dolphins' 6-7 record. If you're not impressed, approach with caution when deciding a candidate's legitimacy based on current coordinator results. Mike Vrabel had terrible results as the Houston Texans' defensive coordinator before embarking on a pretty successful stint as the Titans' head coach.
Weaver has worked with an impressive list of coaches, including Mike McDaniel, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleur, and Kevin O'Connell. His exposure to those offenses have league sources believing he'd hire a quality offensive coordinator. As a player, Weaver was coached by Brian Billick, Rex Ryan, Mike Nolan, Mike Pettine, Gary Kubiak, and Robert Saleh, among others.
The Titans are searching for a culture-builder. Those close to Weaver describe him as a legitimate leader of men capable of motivating a locker room. If Ziegler and McKenzie help place Weaver on Borgonzi's shortlist, it'll be up to the Dolphins' DC to capitalize on the opportunity.