Robert Saleh Brings a Proven Blueprint to the Titans: Preparation, Detail, and Respect
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - When Brian Cushing arrived in the NFL as a first-round pick in 2009, he had the physical tools to make an immediate impact. What he didn’t yet have was the nuance - the mental edge that separates raw talent from true difference-makers on Sundays. That’s where Robert Saleh came in.
Back then, Saleh was a young assistant coach with the Houston Texans, working under Johnny Holland with the linebackers. He wasn’t the loudest voice in the room, but he was one of the sharpest. And for a rookie like Cushing, Saleh’s attention to detail and relentless focus on preparation made all the difference.
“It was learning to watch film and how it changes every single week,” Cushing recalled. “He’d give me hypothetical situations - ‘They come out in this personnel and we call this, what are you doing?
If they motion this guy, what are you doing?’ He just gave me a ton of examples and scenarios before I even played.
It made me comfortable going into the game.”
Cushing’s rookie season was a showcase of what happens when elite talent meets elite preparation. He was everywhere - four interceptions, 10 passes defensed, four sacks, 12 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
He earned 78 percent of the vote for Defensive Rookie of the Year and punched his ticket to the Pro Bowl. But behind the scenes, it was the mental reps with Saleh that helped unlock that performance.
“Ninety percent of what he said happened,” Cushing said. “He’s really into the details and really big on preparation, getting guys as absolutely ready as possible.”
That’s the kind of coach the Titans are bringing in - one who doesn’t just teach schemes, but teaches players how to think the game. And that’s exactly what Tennessee general manager Mike Borgonzi is banking on as Saleh begins assembling his staff.
Saleh’s coaching roots run deep in linebacker development. In Houston, he worked not only with Cushing but also with DeMeco Ryans - now the head coach of the division-rival Texans.
Ryans just led Houston to an AFC South title behind a defense that ranked first in total yardage, second in scoring, and sixth on third downs. It’s no surprise that both Ryans and Saleh, who shared a meeting room over a decade ago, are now leading teams in the same division.
After his stint in Houston and a stop in Seattle, Saleh got his first linebacker room of his own in Jacksonville under Gus Bradley. That’s where he really began to shape his identity as a coach - one who demands accountability, but leads with respect.
“They want to be treated like men, and they want to be treated with respect,” Saleh said back in 2014. “They want you to teach them something and help them perform on Sundays and help them maximize their abilities as individuals.”
That philosophy has followed him at every stop. Former Jaguars linebacker Paul Posluszny once said he played his best football under Saleh - a testament to the coach’s ability to elevate veterans just as much as he develops rookies.
Now, Saleh is bringing that same mindset to Nashville. The Titans will officially introduce him as their new head coach on Thursday, but the work has already begun. He’s building a staff, laying the foundation, and bringing his trademark confidence to a franchise looking for a new identity.
“That confidence comes from years of experience,” Cushing said. “Knowing what he’s talking about and knowing what he’s teaching.”
For the Titans, it’s not just about hiring a head coach - it’s about bringing in a teacher, a tactician, and a culture-setter. Saleh’s track record speaks for itself. From Houston to Jacksonville to wherever he’s been, players don’t just play for him - they grow under him.
And that’s the kind of leadership Tennessee is counting on as they turn the page and look to the future.