The Tennessee Titans are wasting no time reshaping their identity under new head coach Robert Saleh. After bringing in the former 49ers defensive coordinator to lead the charge, the team made another splash-this time on the offensive side of the ball. On Tuesday afternoon, the Titans filled one of their most critical vacancies by hiring former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator, pending the outcome of his candidacy for the Raiders’ head coaching job.
Daboll, who was dismissed by New York in November following a turbulent season, still carries significant weight around the league as an offensive architect. His track record speaks for itself-he helped engineer Josh Allen’s rise in Buffalo and was once considered one of the brightest minds in the game. Now, Tennessee is betting that he can help unlock the potential of their young quarterback, Cam Ward.
Ward, the former No. 1 overall pick, gave Titans fans glimpses of what could be during his rookie campaign. The arm talent is there.
The mobility? Undeniable.
But consistency was hard to come by, and much of that stemmed from playing behind an offensive line that struggled to hold its ground week after week. For all of Ward’s natural gifts, it’s tough to develop when you’re constantly under siege.
That’s where Daboll comes in. His challenge will be to craft an offense that not only protects his quarterback but also plays to Ward’s strengths-designing schemes that get the ball out quickly, emphasize movement, and allow the young signal-caller to operate with confidence. If Daboll can replicate even a portion of the success he had in Buffalo, the Titans could be on the verge of something special.
For Saleh, this hire is also about balance. With Daboll overseeing the offense, Saleh can turn his focus back to his wheelhouse-defense. It’s a smart delegation of responsibilities, especially for a team that’s still filling out the rest of its coaching staff.
There’s still work to be done in Tennessee, but with a defensive-minded head coach and a proven offensive play-caller now in place, the Titans are starting to lay a foundation that could help them turn the corner. The next step? Building a cohesive staff around them and giving Cam Ward the tools he needs to take that next leap.