The Tennessee Titans have selected San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their next head coach, finalizing their search late Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Saleh is expected to sign a five-year deal, meeting in person with Titans officials in Nashville on Monday after what was initially planned as a virtual interview. That meeting proved decisive, as general manager Mike Borgonzi and team leadership came away convinced he was the right fit. Tennessee also interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy the same day, but Saleh ultimately emerged as the top choice following extensive discussions.
The 46-year-old will become the 20th head coach in Oilers/Titans history and the seventh since the organization relocated to Nashville in 1997. He replaces Brian Callahan, who was dismissed in mid-October after the team struggled to a 3-14 finish. Despite the record, the Titans believe they have a foundation to build on, highlighted by quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.
Saleh’s coaching résumé spans more than two decades, beginning at Michigan State in 2002 and progressing through NFL stops with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, and Jacksonville Jaguars before his rise in San Francisco. He returns to a head coaching role after previously leading the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024. His tenure there ended with a 20-36 record, complicated by injuries and instability at quarterback. New York’s hopes shifted dramatically when Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the 2023 opener, and Saleh was let go early the following season despite Rodgers’ return.
After his departure from the Jets, Saleh rejoined San Francisco for a second stint as defensive coordinator. In 2025, he helped guide a heavily injured 49ers roster to the NFC divisional round. His first run with the team from 2017 to 2020 included a Super Bowl appearance following the 2020 season, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s respected defensive minds.
One of Saleh’s immediate challenges will be assembling an offensive staff capable of accelerating Ward’s development. The Titans averaged just 16.7 points per game this season, one of the lowest marks in franchise history since arriving in Nashville. Improving that output will be critical as the team looks to end a playoff drought that dates back to 2021, when Tennessee was the AFC’s top seed under former coach Mike Vrabel.
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