Robert Saleh Named New Head Coach of the Titans
Robert Saleh has officially been appointed as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, a move that many anticipated as he makes his return to the NFL landscape.
The announcement came on Thursday, following reports from earlier last week suggesting that Saleh would have another shot at a head coaching position after his tenure with the Jets.
During his time with the Jets, Saleh didn’t call the plays himself but expressed to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo that he wished he had taken on that responsibility. Saleh humorously remarked that he often felt like just the “timeout and red flag guy,” rather than a play-calling authority.
“I didn’t call the plays in New York; I just left everything up to the coordinator,” Saleh explained. He added, “We joked on game days about not calling plays, even though we were involved in a lot of game planning. I felt, in some sense, like a fan with the best view in the house.”
He elaborated on the significance of calling plays, saying, “For me, it doesn’t mean control. It’s about connecting with the players. When you’re the one calling the plays, you sense the pressure they feel with each decision. It’s about understanding what each player is experiencing in that moment.”
While discussing changes to the team’s strategies, Saleh suggested there were numerous adjustments to be made, although he didn’t delve into specifics. Interestingly, he’s not the only former New York coach coming to Nashville; former Giants head coach Brian Daboll will also be joining the Titans’ coaching staff.
“Facing the Titans is going to be a different experience,” Saleh noted. “There will be considerable changes in our game planning. The way they operate has a lot of upside. As a defensive player, preparing for the Titans is certainly a challenge.” He continued, complimenting Daboll’s versatility as an offensive coach, underscoring that he keeps defenses on their toes whether running or passing.
Before taking on this new role, Saleh spent over three seasons as the Jets’ head coach but was let go after the 2024 season started with a 2-3 record. He then returned to the San Francisco 49ers as a defensive coordinator, a position he previously held for four years from 2017 to 2020.
