Breaking: Titans move to hire Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator
I can confirm the Tennessee Titans are pushing to hire Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator under new head coach Robert Saleh. Talks are active and advanced. One condition remains before the agreement is complete. This is the boldest offensive move in Nashville in years, and it sends a clear message to the AFC South.
Daboll, the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year with the Giants, is the rare coach who changes a team’s identity on day one. His track record in Buffalo showed it. He helped build Josh Allen into an MVP level player. He created an aggressive, versatile attack that stretched the field and stressed defenses at every level. Tennessee wants that edge, and they want it now.
Talks are ongoing. The deal is not done. One condition must be resolved before the Titans finalize the hire.
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What a Saleh Daboll pairing means for Tennessee
Saleh brings a clear defensive mindset and a no nonsense culture. Pairing him with Daboll gives Tennessee balance and bite. It is the classic model. A defensive head coach sets the tone, then hands the keys of the offense to a proven play caller with a modern plan.
Expect the Titans to play faster and be more flexible. Daboll’s philosophy leans on spacing, motion, and matchups. He believes in putting stress on linebackers and safeties. He mixes quick game concepts with deep shots. He uses tight ends and backs as real threats. He also embraces quarterback movement, which opens easy throws and punishes static coverages.
This should fit the roster. Tennessee has a strong armed quarterback who can attack downfield and create off script. There is speed at receiver and a physical tight end group. The run game can shift from a heavy, grind style to a varied menu of inside zone, gap schemes, and perimeter runs. The goal is simple. Keep defenses guessing on every snap.
Expect visible changes on offense
- Faster tempo and more shotgun looks
- More motion and bunch formations to free receivers
- Aggressive fourth down choices in plus territory
- A larger role for backs and tight ends in the pass game
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The condition holding up the final step
The remaining condition is not a small detail. It speaks to control and fit. I am told it involves the design of the offensive staff and clear play calling authority. That could include the right to bring in key assistants, or a title bump to assistant head coach offense. It could also touch contract structure and term. Both sides want clarity. Daboll wants a runway to build, not a short leash. The Titans want alignment from day one.
None of this is unusual at this level. Elite coordinators ask for resources and voice. Teams that aim high often agree, then hold everyone accountable. Saleh and Daboll know the New York market and its pressure. That shared history matters. They understand how to manage the noise, and how to win in spite of it.
If finalized, this hire sets the tone for Tennessee’s free agency and draft. Expect wide receiver, offensive line, and speed on offense to be priorities.
How this shakes the AFC South
This move would change the division race. The Jaguars, Texans, and Colts all invest in young quarterbacks and creative offenses. Tennessee needs to match that, and they are choosing to leap. A Saleh defense backed by a Daboll offense is a serious blend. It is discipline, speed, and aggression in one package.
The matchups get spicy. Jacksonville’s multiple fronts, Houston’s pressure looks, and Indianapolis’ zone match schemes will all face a wider playbook from Tennessee. Daboll likes to force defenses into simple pictures. He uses tempo to lock coverages and then hunts one on one chances down the field. He will challenge the edges with formations and isolate slower defenders in space. That style travels, and it plays well late in the season.
There is also a cultural shift here. The Titans have long been defined by grit and power. That identity is not going away. It is getting modern tools. Analytics will have a louder voice on fourth downs and red zone calls. Practice routines will focus on timing, spacing, and situational mastery. The offense will feel lighter, sharper, and harder to predict.
The bottom line
The Titans are not tinkering. They are pivoting. I am told the team is intent on closing with Brian Daboll, pending that final condition. If they do, Tennessee steps into the new season with a proven defensive leader and an elite offensive mind. That combination changes expectations inside the building and across the AFC South.
Keep an eye on staff announcements, titles, and contract length. Those details will reveal how much freedom Daboll has to shape this offense. If the deal gets across the goal line, the Titans will hit the offseason with clear direction and serious momentum. The rest of the division just got a new puzzle to solve. 🏈
