Saleh will leave the defensive coordination of the 49ers to go to Tennessee
Los Tennessee Titans They work to close a deal and hire Robert Salehdefensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ersas their next head coach, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN on Monday night.
Robert Salehformer coach of the New York Jets, spent Monday in Tennessee with the Titansand both sides were impressed enough to move forward with negotiations, according to the same sources.
Los Titans They also conducted a face-to-face interview with Matt Nagy on Monday.
The general manager of the Titans, Mike Borgonziwas leaning toward Nagy because of their time together in Kansas Citywhere Borgonzi had been assistant general manager. However, support from the team’s owners tilted the decision toward Saleh, according to a source.
This will be Saleh’s second stint as head coach. He coached the Jets from 2021 to 2024, after four years as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, a period that included a Super Bowl appearance following the 2020 season.
Saleh’s stage with the Jets It never took off, even though New York signed future Hall of Famer, Aaron Rodgershoping to jumpstart the coach’s third season. Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in the first game of the 2023 season, and the Jets finished with a 7-10 record. The following year, with Rodgers back, Saleh was fired after five games. He finished with an overall record of 20-36.
Among the lessons Saleh said he learned in New Yorkis to connect better with the entire squad, something he worked on during his second stage with the 49ersdespite being the defensive coordinator. This matches some of the characteristics Borgonzi has mentioned he is looking for in the next coach.
“That person, ultimately, has to connect everyone in the organization,” Borgonzi noted. “You have to have that balance between being demanding, connecting with people and uniting the team.”
Los Titans They haven’t made the playoffs since 2021, when they were the best team in the AFC and lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round under former coach Mike Vrabel.
The first task for Saleh, a defensive-minded coach, will be to find an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach to help Ward become the team’s franchise quarterback.
Los Titans They also plan to move to a new stadium in 2027.
