The Tennessee Titans enter the 2026 season with a revamped coaching staff. Head coach Robert Saleh is joined by new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, while Bones Fassel remains from 2025.
This new coaching staff has a single mindset to get this team back on track and win some games. Training camp began at the end of last week, and on Monday the players wore pads for the first time. Every day there have been words from various members of the organization, from coaches to players, and on Tuesday all three coordinators addressed the media ahead of practice.
Daboll went first. He answered a ton of questions, but he concluded with some really high praise for quarterback Cam Ward.
#Titans OC Brian Daboll on
Cam’s work ethic #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/RCigbz0nvO
— 104-5 The Zone 📻 (@1045TheZone) August 4, 2026
"I get here pretty early every day," Daboll says. "And most of the time he's in the team room, sitting there watching tape, with maybe a couple of other guys he pulls along. I think that shows his teammates that he's very serious about football, which he is. When they're with him in the huddle, in the film sessions, he shows that he's a competitor. The job of the quarterback is to earn the respect of your team. Earn the respect of your coaches, earn the respect of the players, earn the respect of the fans. That's what you sign up for when you play quarterback in this league.
"I've said this since I've been back here, whatever it was, March, April, he's been great. A student of the game, learns from his mistakes, leads, competitive, tough, fiery. A lot of good qualities to work with."
Ward showing up early to practice facilities is nothing new; he was notorious for being the first one to show up during his rookie season. Now, though, it seems he's got a few guys who are showing up with him and reviewing film and discussing the game ahead of that day's practice.
Daboll played a huge role in the development of Josh Allen, and he's coached other elite-level players throughout his coaching career, including Brett Favre. He didn't get to where he is by happenstance; he's worked hard to maintain his reputation in the NFL. His head coaching gig with the New York Giants didn't end well, but that doesn't mean he's a bad coach; it means he wasn't a fit anymore.
With the Titans, Daboll has a chance to prove again that he is one of the best at what he does. And his high praise of the Titans' second-year quarterback bodes well for the future of the organization.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans' Brian Daboll: Cam Ward is 'very serious about football'
