The Tennessee Titans hired Robert Saleh to be their next head coach, multiple reports confirmed on Monday evening. The Titans flew Saleh into Nashville one day after his San Francisco 49ers were eliminated
from the playoffs. The two sides clearly hit it off immediately.
Mike McCarthy wasn’t a finalist. The Buffalo Bills’ stunning dismissal of Sean McDermott did not impact the Titans’ search. Mike Borgonzi and the Titans agreed to a deal with Saleh after a lengthy interview. Borgonzi didn’t make the Matt Nagy buddy hire, which he deserves credit for.
It’s within the realm of possibility that the Titans end up with two or even three of their initial 16 head coaching candidates on Saleh’s coaching staff. With Saleh officially being the hire, it’s possible that his offensive coordinator will be Brian Daboll, according to various reports. Daboll initially interviewed for the lead job.
Nagy’s relationship with Titans GM Mike Borgonzi means he could end up on the coaching staff despite missing out on getting the head coaching gig. That scenario depends on how willing Saleh would be to agree to Borgonzi making a staffing decision. McDaniel’s working relationship with Saleh didn’t help bring him to Tennessee, but it’s worth noting that Daboll crossed paths with Borgonzi in KC (2012).
There’s also the possibility that one of the Titans’ interviewees becomes their next defensive coordinator. Borgonzi interviewed both Raheem Morris and Jonathan Gannon for the head coaching job. Both Morris and Gannon feel like more defensive coordinator candidates, though Saleh will probably prefer an assistant who runs his scheme.
Two Titans head coaching candidates on the staff feels like a strong possibility. Three isn’t totally out of the question. For example, with Saleh as head coach, could Daboll/Nagy be his offensive coordinator and Gannon/Morris as his DC? Not likely, but not impossible.
