At long last, the lengthy and oft-discussed Titans head coaching search is over with an emphatic last-minute choice. According to several reports, the Tennessee Titans’ front office made the decision to finalize a deal with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to become their next head coach. The former New York Jets head coach receives another opportunity to lead a franchise after spending one season back home by ‘The Bay.’ News of Saleh’s promotion came shortly after Indiana’s unprecedented national championship win on Monday evening.
ESPN sources: Titans are working to finalize a deal to hire 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their head coach. Saleh spent Monday in Tennessee with the Titans, and the two sides impressed each other enough to move forward together. pic.twitter.com/rXC94my62B
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2026
Report: Tennessee Titans Make Decision On New Head Coach
Reports indicate that the Titans decided to pursue a deal with Coach Saleh after an in-person interview on Monday evening. Originally, Saleh was due to interview virtually on Sunday after the San Francisco 49ers’ blowout playoff loss on Saturday. Instead, it rapidly developed into an in-person meeting scheduled for Monday, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The 49ers’ defensive coordinator interviewed after the presumptive favorite, Kansas City Chiefs OC Matt Nagy.
New Titans coach Robert Saleh’s camp and the team are working through a five-year deal now. Tonight was Saleh’s first interview with the team, it lasted a little over five hours, and the 46-year-old came away from it with the job. https://t.co/jgXhANwYja
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 20, 2026
How did we get here?
Tennessee’s head coaching search turned out to be a long and winding road that seemingly encompassed every nook and cranny of the NFL. They interviewed or requested interviews with over 18 reported candidates during the process. Saleh’s inclusion is no surprise, but he turned out to be a late addition because of his commitments to the 49ers. The initial process began with interviews with nine candidates, most of whom were veteran coaches with head-coaching experience.
Of those initial nine, three reported finalists emerged over the intervening days and weeks. Several coaching prospects were listed on certain hot boards. There were even reports about a couple of off-the-wall college head coaches who were of interest to Tennessee. Alas, those collegiate head coaches headed elsewhere or landed lucrative contract extensions to lead powerful programs.
In a subject that is certainly curious and certain to be revisited in the coming months and years, Tennessee played the role of bridesmaid three times before landing its leading man. The Titans attempted to land the plane with John Harbaugh (New York Giants), Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta Falcons), and Jeff Hafley (Miami Dolphins). Hafley became the latest coach to spurn Nashville for cities elsewhere, set to interview on Tuesday before heading to Miami on Monday. Nagy was the other finalist heading into Monday’s decision to go with Saleh.
Who is Robert Saleh?
Saleh is a defensive mastermind who has led several defenses to great heights, namely in San Francisco under Kyle Shanahan. He was hired as the Jets’ head coach before the 2021 season, leading the team to a 20-36 record over 3.5 seasons.
The Lebanese-American coach is intimately familiar with the Titans, having coached against them multiple times. He began his NFL coaching career with the Houston Texans, an AFC South rival, in 2005 as a defensive intern, eventually ascending to assistant linebackers coach before leaving in 2011. Saleh then returned to the division with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as linebackers coach. He assumed the defensive coordinator role in San Francisco for four seasons before his stint with the Jets. Saleh spent 2024 working for former Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur in Green Bay.
2025 was yet another injury-ravaged season for the 49ers, but Saleh’s stop unit more than held its end of the bargain. The 49ers’ season ended last Saturday at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in a blowout loss where the wheels finally fell off the wagon. He very publicly feuded with the Jaguars’ Liam Coen, so the eternally spicy rivalry between the Titans and the Jaguars has even more spice. Saleh comes from the same coaching tree as Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans. They’re admittedly on better terms than Coen is with Saleh, at least.
Philosophy and the Titans
Historically, Saleh has preferred a four-man front, a departure from Tennessee’s recent history of three-man fronts. It’s not a perfect fit, but Saleh is a proven defensive mind and reportedly will call the Titans’ defense’s plays. He didn’t call the plays for the Jets as their head coach. GM Mike Borgonzi doesn’t have a direct tie, but the Chiefs have run into Saleh’s defense several times over the years. Saleh’s 49ers defeated the Titans 37-24 during the 2025 season. He also owns a 2-0 record over the franchise while with the Jets.
It will be interesting to see how he utilizes All-Pro Jeffery Simmons. The inside linebacker room could be set with Cedric Gray and Cody Barton as the starters going forward. Fortunately, the Titans have oodles and oodles of cap space to shape the team in Saleh’s image. According to OverTheCap, they possess $93 million in cap room and currently hold the fourth overall selection in the 2026 draft.
What’s next?
The offensive staff that Saleh hires will be the critical founding pieces of his tenure in Nashville. The ties he has developed to McVay/Shanahan acolytes are vital. There is a chance of a reunion with former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. The options are seemingly limitless, but one could assume that the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, Klay Kubiak, will merit a look. Saleh previously served with the Texans under Klay’s father, Gary. The other Kubiak brother, Klint, led the Seahawks to the NFC championship game. Brian Daboll, former Giants head coach, is another possible candidate. Daboll also interviewed for the position Saleh currently holds. In a plot twist, Matt Nagy, the reported finalist, could be in play as his contract expired with the Chiefs. Rams OC Mike Lafleur (Matt’s brother) is another. Former Houston OC Bobby Slowik is another with Saleh connections alongside current Packers OC Adam Stenavich.
The offensive line coach is another area Coach Saleh needs to focus on. With the Stefanski hiring in Atlanta and the subsequent hiring of Bill Callahan, it frees up esteemed OL coach Dwayne Ledford. Could former Titans head coach Mike Munchak be in play to return? Saleh also needs to make every effort to retain special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel.
Welcome to Nashville, Coach!
While the fine print isn’t official yet, nor has an official team statement been released regarding the matter, the hire is much celebrated across social media. It is expected that the hire will be made official soon without the constant harangue that plagued the Giants’ deal with Harbaugh. Welcome to Nashville, Coach Saleh!