The Tennessee Titans are closing in on a major move, with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh expected to become their next head coach. According to reports, Saleh spent Monday meeting with Titans leadership, and both sides came away impressed enough to advance toward finalizing a deal.
For Saleh, this marks a potential return to the head coaching ranks just over a year after his tenure with the New York Jets came to an end. His time in New York was turbulent-marked by flashes of promise but ultimately falling short of expectations.
The Jets parted ways with him in October 2024 after a 2-3 start, a rare midseason firing for a franchise that hadn’t made such a move since 1975. Under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich, the team struggled to find its footing, dropping nine of their final 12 games.
Saleh's run with the Jets ended with a 20-36 overall record. His first season saw the team finish 4-13, followed by back-to-back 7-10 campaigns. His final game at the helm came in London, a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
But if there's one thing we've learned about Saleh, it's that he doesn’t stay down for long.
After his departure from the Jets, he took on a short-term consultancy role with the Green Bay Packers before returning to a familiar home in San Francisco. Rejoining the 49ers as defensive coordinator in 2025-five years after his previous stint in the same role-Saleh quickly reminded the league of his defensive acumen. Despite a rash of injuries to key personnel, the Niners finished 11th in points allowed, a testament to Saleh’s ability to adapt and maximize talent.
That strong showing reignited interest around the league. Several teams lined up to interview him, including the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Atlanta Falcons. But it’s Tennessee that appears to have secured his services as they look to turn the page on a frustrating chapter.
The Titans are coming off a second consecutive 3-14 season, despite some encouraging signs from rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The team dismissed head coach Brian Callahan in October after a 1-5 start, handing interim duties to Mike McCoy for the remainder of the year. Now, they’re banking on Saleh to bring stability and a defensive identity to a franchise that’s been stuck in reverse.
Saleh, 46, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Before his time with the Jets, he spent four seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, helping build one of the league’s most physical and disciplined units.
His coaching journey began at the college level with stints at Michigan State, Central Michigan, and Georgia. He broke into the NFL with the Houston Texans as a defensive intern, eventually working his way up to assistant linebackers coach.
From there, he joined the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach before moving on to the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as linebackers coach for three seasons.
What the Titans are getting is a coach who’s been through the fire-one who’s seen the highs of playoff runs and the lows of rebuilding years. Saleh is known for his energy on the sideline, his ability to connect with players, and most importantly, his knack for crafting defenses that punch above their weight.
Now, the challenge shifts to Tennessee, where he’ll be tasked with reshaping a team that’s lacked consistency on both sides of the ball. The Titans have a young quarterback to develop, a roster in flux, and a fan base hungry for progress. If Saleh can bring the same fire and structure he’s shown in San Francisco, the Titans might finally be on a path out of the AFC South basement.
It’s a big swing by the Titans-and one that could pay off in a big way.