The Tennessee Titans’ offseason overhaul is in full swing, and the latest move could bring a big name back into the AFC spotlight. Former Giants head coach Brian Daboll is reportedly in line to become the new offensive coordinator under freshly appointed head coach Robert Saleh.
Daboll’s return to a coordinator role comes just over two months after his midseason dismissal from the Giants, ending a tenure that started with promise but unraveled quickly. Now, he’s poised to link up with Saleh - another former New York head coach - as the two look to reshape a Titans franchise that’s been stuck in reverse for the past two seasons.
But let’s not ink Daboll’s name into the playbook just yet. According to reports, his potential hire in Tennessee hinges on whether he receives a more attractive offer elsewhere. The Las Vegas Raiders are still in the mix for a new head coach, and if they extend that offer to Daboll, it’s expected he’d head to the desert rather than Nashville.
There was also chatter about a possible reunion with the Buffalo Bills, where Daboll made his name as an offensive architect by helping mold Josh Allen into an MVP-caliber quarterback. But the Bills opted for continuity, promoting Joe Brady to the top job after parting ways with Sean McDermott.
Daboll, 50, had a roller-coaster run in New York. In his debut season, he led the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016 - a turnaround that earned him Coach of the Year buzz and plenty of optimism in the Big Apple.
But the momentum didn’t last. The offense sputtered, the losses piled up, and by November 2025, the Giants pulled the plug.
Before his time in New York, Daboll spent four seasons as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator. That’s where his reputation really took off.
He arrived in 2018 and played a central role in Allen’s development, turning a raw, athletic quarterback into one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat weapons. That success is what ultimately landed him the Giants’ job in the first place.
Now, he could be tasked with doing something similar in Tennessee - assuming he doesn’t take a head coaching gig elsewhere. The Titans have their own young signal-caller in Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.
Ward’s raw tools are intriguing, but he’ll need the right coaching infrastructure to thrive at the next level. Daboll’s track record with young quarterbacks would make him a compelling fit.
As for Saleh, he officially took the reins in Tennessee last week, signing a five-year deal to try and lift the Titans out of the AFC basement. After back-to-back 3-14 seasons, the bar isn’t high - but the road back to relevance won’t be easy. Saleh brings a defensive pedigree, having served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator this past season, but his head coaching record (20-36 with the Jets from 2021-24) leaves plenty to prove.
Still, Titans GM Mike Borgonzi made it clear why Saleh was the choice. “Robert embodies the fundamental values of what we believe a Titan should look like and represent,” Borgonzi said in a statement.
“He’s smart, tough, dependable, and values working with people. His innate ability to lead and respond to adversity is what makes him the right person to lead our football program back to one whose identity embodies sustainable success.”
Saleh inherits a roster with some foundational pieces - most notably Ward - but plenty of question marks elsewhere. If Daboll does come aboard, the Titans would be pairing a defensive-minded head coach with an experienced offensive strategist known for quarterback development. That kind of balance could be exactly what Tennessee needs to start climbing back into contention.
But first, the Titans will have to wait and see if Daboll is ready to commit - or if a head coaching opportunity proves too tempting to pass up.