Mike Borgonzi is in place as the Titans’ new general manager. He will not have the final say on certain roster-building fronts, but he has a number of key decisions to make regarding the rest of Tennessee’s front office. 
Once it was learned Borgonzi was the Titans’ pick for GM, Dave Ziegler‘s name emerged as one to watch regarding a role of some kind on the staff. To no surprise, then, the two are set to work together in 2025. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports a deal is being finalized to make Ziegler Tennessee’s next assistant general manager.
When Chad Brinker – now the Titans’ lead executive – was hired in 2023, Anthony Robinson was also brought in as an assistant GM. The latter was fired earlier this month alongside Ran Carthon, however, leaving Brinker in place to play a lead role in reshaping the Tennessee front office. Ziegler will bring notable experience to that group given his NFL tenure.
The 47-year-old’s front office career began in 2010 with the Broncos. Ziegler worked as a Denver scout for two seasons before moving on to the Patriots in 2013. During his New England tenure, he worked his way up to director of player personnel before receiving his first GM opportunity. Hired alongside Josh McDaniels, Ziegler was tasked with bring the ‘Patriot Way’ to the Raiders in 2022. Their efforts on that front did not go according to plan, though, and midway through their second season in place they were both fired.
Ziegler did not need to wait long to find his next opportunity, taking on a role with the Saints in July. As Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football notes, Ziegler has played a key role in the team’s ongoing head coaching search (New Orleans’ vacancy is the only one which remains around the league). His absence will therefore be felt by the Saints moving forward.
The Titans will of course be a team to watch closely as the draft approaches given Borgonzi’s stated willingness to entertain offers for the No. 1 pick. Considering Ziegler’s background in scouting, he will no doubt have a key role in evaluating the 2025 prospect class and thus in shaping the Titans’ overall plan regarding the draft. Beyond that, it will be interesting to see how he fits into the team’s front office structure.