The Tennessee Titans are trying to climb back toward the kind of consistency they had not too long ago, when the franchise reached the playoffs four times in five seasons from 2017 to 2021. Since then, though, they have gone four straight years without getting past the regular season, and last year’s 3-14 finish only deepened the reset.
That collapse started with a 1-5 opening stretch, which led to head coach Brian Callahan being fired. After the season, the Titans turned to Robert Saleh to take over the job, and the hope now is that a new voice, plus a young quarterback with real upside, can change the direction of the team.
The upside case in 2026 is built around Cam Ward. The top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft showed why the Titans made that investment, finishing last season with several huge throws down the stretch and hinting at what he can become.
Tennessee also brought in Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator, and he arrives with a strong track record as a play-caller. He’ll have help, too, with Wan'Dale Robinson following him from the Giants and draft pick Carnell Tate joining the receiver group as another high-end target.
That mix gives Tennessee a path to a noticeable leap, even if the roster still looks a year away from true postseason contention. The ceiling here is 8-9, a season that would reflect real progress without quite crossing into playoff territory.
The bottom end is a lot uglier. If Saleh doesn’t prove to be the right answer at head coach - and there’s still debate about whether he was ever given a fair shot in that role - and if Ward stalls instead of taking another step as the starter, then the Titans could wind up right back where they were a year ago. In that scenario, the floor is 3-14.
In Other News...
Titans Camp Battle Could Quietly Decide Robert Salehs Defense
Training camp is about to sort out more than just the Titans depth chart. Under Robert Saleh, the competition at right guard has become one of the quieter but more consequential battles on the roster, with Jackson Slater and Cordell Volson both in the mix as the team tries to stabilize the interior and keep the offense on schedule. It is the kind of job fight that can shape how a line functions long before the regular season starts.
The same is true on the edge, where the spot opposite Jermaine Johnson II is expected to draw real attention once camp gets rolling. Femi Oladejo and Jacob Martin headline that group, with rookie Keldric Faulk also expected to factor in, and the way Saleh parcels out those snaps should tell a lot about how he sees the front seven taking shape. For a defense built on pressure and rotation, those decisions may end up carrying more weight than they first appear. [Read more 🡒]
Former Titans Star Left Stunned By Travis Kelce Friendship Snub
The celebrity-heavy wedding scene around Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift had plenty of NFL representation, with names like George Kittle and Matthew Stafford showing up with family in tow. For former Titans lineman Taylor Lewan and ex-Titans linebacker Will Compton, though, the guest list brought a different kind of attention, since both had long considered themselves part of Kelces circle and expected to be in the mix for a day that blended football fame with pop-star spectacle.
Lewan sounded genuinely taken aback when the invitations didnt come his way, openly questioning what he might be doing wrong after seeing who was there. Compton had a similar reaction, saying he was flabbergasted while reacting to the photos and even noting Dean Blandinos presence, a reminder that the guest list was full of surprises even before the Titans duo realized they were on the outside looking in. [Read more 🡒]
Titans May Finally Have The Camp Battle Their Secondary Needed
The Titans added another piece to their secondary on March 12, signing Joshua Williams to a two-year contract after four seasons with the Chiefs. For a cornerback room that has spent too much time shuffling bodies because of injuries, Williams arrives as the kind of steady, experienced depth every defense wants but not every defense can find.
What makes him especially relevant in Tennessee is the role he can fill behind Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott at boundary corner. Williams brings size, special teams value and the sort of flexibility that can help a coaching staff keep its options open if the camp competition gets tight, and the Titans will be watching closely to see whether he can turn that backup job into something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]