Why Robert Saleh Makes Sense as the Titans’ Next Head Coach
The Tennessee Titans are staring down one of the most pivotal offseasons in recent memory - and this time, they can’t afford to get it wrong. After two straight head coaching hires that leaned on first-timers and ended in underwhelming results, the franchise is at a crossroads.
The next coach needs to bring more than just fresh ideas. He needs to bring leadership, experience, and a clear plan to unify both sides of the ball.
That’s where Robert Saleh enters the conversation.
Let’s rewind a bit. The Titans have been down this road before.
Back in 2015, they handed the reins to Mike Mularkey, who inherited a three-win team and immediately brought stability. Two straight 9-7 seasons followed - not flashy, but respectable - before the team moved on to Mike Vrabel.
Vrabel needed a couple of years to find his footing, but once he did, the Titans became a tough, playoff-caliber squad. That’s the kind of trajectory the team needs again - but ideally, without the slow ramp-up.
Unfortunately, Brian Callahan’s tenure didn’t deliver that. The Titans never quite found their identity, and the team often looked like less than the sum of its parts.
That’s a leadership issue. And it’s why the Titans can’t afford to go with another coach who needs time to figure out the job.
They need someone who’s already been through the fire - someone who knows what it means to sit in the big chair and lead an entire organization.
Enter Robert Saleh.
Currently the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Saleh is back in a familiar role - coaching defense at a high level - but he’s not the same coach who left for the New York Jets job a few years ago. He’s grown, and more importantly, he’s learned what it truly takes to be a head coach in the NFL.
Before he took the job in New York, Saleh was purely a defensive mind. But once he stepped into that top role, he realized quickly that being a head coach is about more than X’s and O’s.
It’s about relationships. It’s about connecting with players and staff across the entire building - not just your side of the ball.
That lesson didn’t come overnight. Saleh himself has said it wasn’t until his second season with the Jets that he truly understood the importance of that connection.
"Being a head coach did help me understand that," Saleh said. "I do think it's important anytime you can connect with anyone in the building."
Even now, back in San Francisco, he’s applying that lesson. He’s still coaching defense, but he’s also making himself a resource for everyone in the organization. That kind of leadership doesn’t just disappear when you change titles - it sticks with you.
George Kittle, one of the 49ers' most respected voices, put it plainly: “I think his understanding of offensive players and just kind of what we go through has opened up his understanding of being a football coach. I just think he's grown as a coach.”
That growth is exactly what the Titans should be looking for. Saleh has already gone through the growing pains of being a first-time head coach.
He’s not going to need a year or two to figure out how to run a team. He’s done it.
He’s failed, he’s learned, and now he’s better for it.
And let’s talk about that Jets tenure for a second.
Yes, the record says 20-36. But context matters.
Saleh took over a two-win team and won seven games in back-to-back seasons - with quarterbacks like Zach Wilson, Mike White, Brett Rypien, and Trevor Siemian under center. That’s not exactly a dream scenario for any coach.
The fact that he got as much as he did out of that roster speaks volumes.
A veteran coach recently put it best: Saleh’s time in New York should age better than the record suggests. And when you look at how the Jets have regressed under Aaron Glenn - currently sitting at 3-12 - it only reinforces how tough that job really was.
“It showed what Robert had to overcome and that it wasn’t easy,” the coach said.
This isn’t just about cleaning up someone else’s mess. It’s about recognizing a coach who has already been through the fire and come out sharper on the other side. Saleh has the experience, the perspective, and now, the second-chance mindset that often separates good coaches from great ones.
So why Tennessee?
Saleh isn’t just looking for a job - he’s looking for the right job. A place where he can build something sustainable, where he can connect with a quarterback and lead a team that’s ready to take a step forward.
The Titans can offer that. They have young talent, a front office looking for a culture-builder, and a fan base hungry for direction.
And here’s something else to consider: the 49ers are one of the most well-run organizations in football. The fact that they were eager to bring Saleh back into the fold - even after his head coaching stint - speaks volumes.
That’s not something a team like San Francisco does lightly. They value what he brings, not just as a defensive mind, but as a leader and a culture guy.
Ask yourself this: Do you trust the Jets’ decision to move on from him, or the 49ers’ decision to bring him back?
That contrast alone should tell the Titans’ front office everything they need to know.
The Bottom Line
If the Titans want to avoid another rebuild that starts with a learning curve, they need to go with someone who’s already walked that path. Robert Saleh checks every box.
He’s been a head coach. He’s made mistakes.
He’s learned from them. And now, he’s ready to lead again - with more clarity, more connection, and more confidence.
If Tennessee can bring him in, they won’t be hiring a coach who needs time to figure it out. They’ll be hiring one who already has.