The Tennessee Titans made a splash with the hiring of Robert Saleh as their new head coach, bringing in one of the most respected defensive minds on the market. But now comes the harder part: building out a staff that can not only support his vision but elevate a franchise in transition - and all eyes are on the offensive coordinator role.
Saleh has already started shaping his staff, with a familiar face potentially joining him on the defensive side. The Titans have requested an interview with Falcons defensive pass-game coordinator Mike Rutenberg, someone who worked closely with Saleh during their time with the Jets. If that reunion happens, Rutenberg could be in line to take over as Tennessee’s next defensive coordinator - a move that would bring continuity and trust to a unit that’s expected to take on Saleh’s identity.
But while the defensive side may be coming together, the offense is a different challenge entirely.
The Titans are reportedly pushing hard to land Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator. Daboll, the former Giants head coach, is no stranger to building offenses from the ground up - just ask Josh Allen.
He played a pivotal role in Allen’s development during his time as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, helping to turn a raw, toolsy quarterback into one of the league’s elite. That kind of résumé is exactly why Saleh and the Titans are so eager to bring him in.
According to multiple reports, Tennessee is hoping to hire Daboll “ASAP,” but they’re not the only ones in the mix. Daboll is still in consideration for head coaching jobs with both the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders, which means the Titans are stuck in a bit of a holding pattern. They want him in the building, but they’ll have to wait and see how the head coaching dominoes fall.
And that wait could prove costly.
Saleh’s first major task as head coach is to get the offensive coordinator hire right - not just for the sake of scheme, but for the development of rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Ward is a promising young talent with the tools to grow into a franchise QB, but that growth hinges on the system he’s in and the coach guiding him. Daboll, with his track record of quarterback development and creative play-calling, would be an ideal fit.
If Tennessee misses out on him, they’ll need to pivot quickly - and smartly. There’s no room for error when it comes to the quarterback-coordinator pairing, especially for a team looking to rebuild its offensive identity and compete in a tough AFC South.
The Titans are playing the waiting game for now. But the stakes are clear: land Daboll, and they get a proven offensive architect to pair with a rookie quarterback and a defensive-minded head coach. Miss out, and the pressure only grows to find the right Plan B - one that keeps Cam Ward’s trajectory pointed upward and gives this new era in Tennessee a real shot at success.