New Titans coach Saleh is eager to show what he's learned since his time leading Jets

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Robert Saleh believes the Tennessee Titans were the best fit for him among the 10 teams looking for a coach this cycle. And Saleh, who's enjoyed plenty of success as a defensive coordinator but failed in his first stint as an NFL head coach, said Thursday he's learned from his experiences leading the New York Jets. "There's no handbook to a first time at anything you do, you know? ... The proper question would be, what didn't I learn?" Saleh said as he was introduced as the 20th head coach in franchise history. "I can sit here and talk to you for the next four hours about all those different things. But I can assure you that there was tremendous growth, through the opportunities that I had with the Jets and, through that growth, I think I'm more prepared now than I've ever been." Late in the season, All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons said Tennessee needed to find a leader who could change the culture of the organization and hold players accountable. The Titans believe they've found that man. "Ultimately what we wanted was a leader for this football team that could build a winning culture and connect the entire building," general manager Mike Borgonzi said. "We were looking for a leader with high character, integrity and humility, a leader with a high football IQ and great teaching skills." Saleh earned plenty of respect around the league during his two stints as defensive coordinatorwith the 49ers. His time in San Francisco was sandwiched around four years with the Jets in which Saleh went 20-36 before he was fired five games into the 2024 season. The Titans have finished 3-14 in each of the past two seasons. They're banking that Saleh can turn around a franchise that last had a winning season in 2021 and has fired a coach or general manager in four consecutive seasons. "You know, the second you walk into this building, there's going to be a standard," Saleh said. "I'll say it a million times that the objective of life is to go to bed better than when you woke up. And if you don't have that intent, if you don't have that mindset, you're doing yourself a disservice. Or doing your teammates a disservice." More than a dozen Titans players were on hand for the news conference, including Simmons and Tennessee's quarterback, 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Saleh hired former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator and is entrusting him with Ward's development. Ward was fourth in the NFL in pass attempts as a rookie. Saleh said he plans to help Daboll by taking some of the pressure off the young QB. "In terms of just a player, making sure that we support him with the proper defense, proper run game," Saleh said, citing the New England Patriots' conservative offensive system during Tom Brady's first few seasons. "He was backed by an elite defense and an unbelievable run game and a system that allowed him to just kind of move the sticks on third down, be great in two-minute, be efficient in the red zone and score points," Saleh said of Brady. "And so for Cam, the best way to develop a quarterback is to give him a defense. ... Building a structure for him that doesn't ask him to be Superman 60 plays a game will be at the front of our minds."