Robert Saleh, the Tennessee Titans’ new head coach, is about to undertake a big challenge given the way ownership shifts coaches and executives in and out constantly.
Saleh’s plate will be plenty full as the Titans hope he can bring some of the leadership characteristics that apparently followed Mike Vrabel out the door on his way to greener pastures and more success in New England.
While Vrabel works to win his first Super Bowl as a coach, the Titans are still in the middle of a frustrating makeover that was sold by former general manager Ran Carthon as a “competitive rebuild” that blew up when high-priced free agents and young prospects didn’t mesh to produce much success.
At least last year, Mike Borgonzi leveled with the media and fan base by saying he was embarking on a true remodel from the ground up. The plan was to build around 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who got a baptism by fire as a rookie, struggling at times and then starting to figure some things out by the end of the season.
Now, things start back at square one under Saleh, and whoever he chooses to be his offensive coordinator. That means a new offense, a new system, a new personality to adapt to for Ward and the Titans in hopes of finally finding some direction for what has been largely a rudderless ship over the last three to four years.
Let them do their jobs
The biggest thing the Titans can do to help Saleh in his journey as head coach is to allow him to perform the task with some sense of stability.
There will still be growing pains for Ward in learning a new system and getting used to a new coach. We saw how a new coach and system worked for Will Levis in 2024.
That’s not to say Ward is headed down the same path or will make the same mistakes Levis made under Brian Callahan.
But there will be some rough spots. It could happen in some miracle fashion, but I’m not expecting the marriage of Saleh, Ward and the offensive coordinator to produce a season like Drake Maye enjoyed this year.
Again, just like C.J. Stroud’s rookie season in Houston, the shortcuts to success are often the aberration and not the reality of how change works in the NFL when it comes to developing young quarterbacks.
More likely, Ward makes some strides, the Titans make some improvements on Saleh’s watch (hopefully enough to keep Amy Adams Strunk from firing someone for a fifth consecutive year) and the team shows signs of progress moving forward.
September is a long way away for the Titans and their first game under Saleh. It’s the time from now until then with Ward, his OC and Saleh learning and growing together that will be some of the most important time spent in trying to finally straighten out the mess that has become this franchise.
Terry McCormick also covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com