The Tennessee Titans are making moves-and big ones at that. Fresh off the hire of Robert Saleh as their new head coach, the team didn’t waste much time in addressing one of the most critical roles on the staff: offensive coordinator. On Tuesday, the Titans locked in a major name, reportedly set to bring in former Giants head coach Brian Daboll to run the offense-pending any unexpected detour involving the Raiders’ head coaching job.
Let’s unpack what this means for Tennessee.
Daboll may have had a rocky exit in New York, but don’t let that overshadow what he brings to the table. He’s still widely regarded as one of the sharper offensive minds in the league.
His résumé includes stints where he helped mold Josh Allen into a top-tier quarterback in Buffalo and showed flashes of offensive creativity even during tough stretches with the Giants. Now, he’ll be tasked with building something functional-and ideally explosive-around a young quarterback who’s still finding his footing in the NFL.
That quarterback, of course, is Cam Ward. The former No. 1 overall pick showed glimpses of promise during his rookie campaign.
He’s got the arm, the athleticism, and the playmaking instincts that make scouts and coaches dream big. But let’s be real-he was also running for his life behind an offensive line that struggled mightily all year.
Consistency was hard to come by, and the offense, at times, looked like it was stuck in neutral.
That’s where Daboll comes in. The Titans are hoping he can do for Ward what he did for Allen-build a scheme that leans into his strengths, gives him clearer reads, and lets him operate in space.
Expect more motion, more designed rollouts, and a heavier emphasis on getting the ball out quickly. If Daboll can tailor the playbook to Ward’s skill set while helping him clean up some of the decision-making, this offense could take a serious step forward.
At the same time, Daboll’s arrival gives Robert Saleh something he hasn’t had in a while: the freedom to focus on what he does best-defense. Saleh made his name as the architect of some of the league’s most aggressive, disciplined defenses in San Francisco. With Daboll handling the offensive side, Saleh can zero in on retooling a Titans defense that’s in need of a new identity.
There’s still work to be done. Several coaching vacancies remain on the Titans’ staff, and how they round out the rest of the team will matter.
But bringing in two high-profile, experienced leaders on either side of the ball is a clear signal: Tennessee isn’t interested in a slow rebuild. They want to compete-and soon.
If Daboll can get Ward trending upward and Saleh can inject some bite into the defense, the Titans might just be one of the more intriguing teams to watch heading into next season.