NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Robert Saleh will be the Titans' new head coach, looking to lead the team back to relevance after successive three-win seasons.
Adam Schefter was first with the news. I've confirmed the sides have agreed to terms on a five-year deal.
Mike Borganzi was charged with making the hire and he and his committee spoke to 16 candidates. He was ready to go to Maryland to meet with John Harbaugh before losing out to the Giants. Then he ultimately trimmed his list to Kevin Stefanski, who quickly took the Falcons’ job, Matt Nagy and Jeff Hafley, who is becoming coach of the Dolphins.
Borgonzi then accelerated his process with Saleh. After the 49ers lost in Seattle Saturday evening in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, the GM flipped a Sunday night Zoom call into a Monday in-person meeting with San Francisco’s defensive coordinator.
The Titans passed on Nagy -- a friend of Borgonzi’s from eight years together with the Chiefs, who was also at the team facility for an interview Monday -- to select Saleh.
He was slated to go to Arizona next. He’d also talked with Baltimore and Miami, while Atlanta expressed interest.
Borgonzi didn't make any moves with Brian Callahan's staff, so meeting with them and sorting through who he'd like to keep will be among Saleh's first orders of business. Special teams coordinator John Fassel is under contract through 2027 and tight ends coach Luke Stocker is also especially well regarded.
Well-liked in NFL circles for his defensive mind and relatable personality, Saleh posted a 20-36 record in three-plus seasons as coach of the Jets, when New York had a strong defense but struggled on offense with Zach Wilson and an Achilles injury to Aaron Rodgers after just four plays in 2023.
His offensive coordinator hire will be key. The Titans interviewed a few head coaching candidates who could be attractive in Brian Daboll, Arthur Smith and Mike McDaniel. Saleh and McDaniel, recently fired as coach in Miami, have a strong relationship from their time together with the 49ers.
After his time with the Jets, Saleh returned to San Francisco as Kyle Shanahan’s coordinator and got excellent play out of a unit that suffered key losses to injury. He’s a fiery, passionate coach who will bring Nashville some of the same outgoing personality Mike Vrabel had.
Stay tuned for more.