Robert Saleh Takes the Helm in Tennessee: A Fresh Start, a Familiar Challenge
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Robert Saleh is officially the next head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and while the move may have seemed inevitable over the past few weeks, the road to this hire was anything but straightforward. Saleh, who spent the past few seasons leading the Jets and recently coordinated the 49ers' defense through a deep playoff run, arrives in Nashville with a clear sense of purpose-and plenty of homework already done.
“I probably did as much research on this organization and the people here as they did on me,” Saleh said during his introduction. “From top to bottom, I wanted to know exactly what I was walking into.”
That research paid off. Saleh didn’t just skim the surface.
He dug into the leadership structure, the front office dynamics, and the broader organizational culture. From team president Burke Nihill to GM Mike Borgonzi and assistant GM Chad Brinker, Saleh built a profile on the Titans before ever stepping foot inside the building.
And what he found, he says, only confirmed what he’d heard: a group of people he believes in.
It’s a telling approach from a coach who’s been around the league. Saleh has worked for six NFL organizations, and one of his defining traits is his ability to connect-whether it’s with players, staff, or executives. That network gave him a wide lens into the Titans’ inner workings, and it’s part of what made him such an appealing candidate for a franchise looking to reset its identity.
Of course, a big part of that identity flows through owner Amy Adams Strunk. Her track record with top-level hires is a mixed bag.
From Mike Mularkey to Mike Vrabel to Brian Callahan, and GMs like Ruston Webster, Jon Robinson, and most recently Ran Carthon, the pattern has been consistent: early support, followed by sudden exits. It’s not an uncommon story in NFL ownership, but in Tennessee, the turnover has been particularly sharp.
Strunk is known for staying behind the scenes-until she doesn’t. When something catches her attention, she gets involved.
That was reportedly the case again in this coaching search, which began with a wide net of 16 candidates. For much of the process, Borgonzi and Brinker steered the ship.
But when the list narrowed to finalists in mid-January, Strunk stepped in.
She was prepared to fly with her front office duo to Maryland to make a pitch to John Harbaugh before he ultimately chose the Giants. Kevin Stefanski had already signed with Atlanta.
That left two names in the mix: Matt Nagy and Robert Saleh. Strunk sat in on both interviews.
According to those close to the process, she was comfortable with either direction.
One name that continues to draw attention within the Titans’ power structure is Bryce Wasserman, Strunk’s son-in-law and Brinker’s chief of staff. While it’s unclear how involved he was in early interviews-sources say he wasn’t present for all of them-he was part of the final round. Around the league, Wasserman is often viewed as Strunk’s trusted proxy, someone whose presence signals her interest and influence, even when she’s not in the room.
Saleh, for his part, isn’t fazed by the noise. He’s focused on what he sees as a clear commitment from ownership to build something sustainable. He pointed to the organization’s investment in facilities, a new stadium, and overall infrastructure as proof.
“That speaks volumes to her commitment to build a winner,” Saleh said of Strunk. “I think she knows exactly what she’s looking for, exactly what it takes.”
He’s signed on for five years, a standard term that carries weight considering the Titans have cycled through four major leadership figures in just under three years. When asked about job security and organizational patience, Saleh didn’t flinch.
“At the end of the day, we’ve got to produce,” he said. “It’s a production business.
I have full confidence that we’re going to have the resources to compete with the other 31 teams. As a coach, that’s all you can ask for.”
Saleh isn’t one to get caught up in promises. He’s more interested in what he can see-and what he sees is a franchise that’s ready to reshape its identity and compete.
“I see better than I hear,” he said. “And what I see is an organization that is going all in with regard to reframing who they are and building a consistent winner in the NFL. For me, that’s good enough.”
Now comes the hard part: turning that vision into wins.