Saleh is scheduled to meet the Titans in person on Monday, a change from the virtual interview that had been planned, and multiple reports have framed him as one of the club’s final candidates alongside Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
Why Saleh is getting real traction in Tennessee
The easy pitch is that Saleh has already lived the head coach pressure cooker once, going 20-36 with the New York Jets, and comes back to the market with clearer scar tissue and stronger credibility on his side of the ball.
After watching this video of Robert Saleh I’m ready to go through a brick wall. Hire this man tomorrow @Titans don’t make the mistake of letting him walk out the door. #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/7ySrxJ38Oo
— Ballin (@BallinFFB) January 18, 2026
The Jets were consistently nasty on defense during the heart of his tenure, ranking first in passing yards allowed per game and opponent yards per play across the 2022 and 2023 seasons while piling up 93 sacks in that two-year stretch, even while the offense spun its wheels.
Tennessee clearly has not been shy about doing homework either, accelerating to an in-person meeting now that Saleh is free, which is usually what teams do when they think a candidate can actually win the room and build a staff.
The 49ers resume still sells, even with the season ending fast
Saleh’s San Francisco track record is still the calling card, especially the 2019 run when his defense helped power a Super Bowl trip.
I need Robert Saleh vs Liam Coen twice a year
— Zach Reger (@zachreger18) January 18, 2026
Do the right thing for once #Titans pic.twitter.com/4dlJncdMXl https://t.co/yFTF7wUVly
That season, the 49ers ranked first in passing defense, second in total defense, and finished among the league leaders in sacks.
Now the timing works in Tennessee’s favor. The 49ers season is finished, the Titans are moving quickly with finalist interviews, and Saleh has a clean window to make his case face to face as the franchise closes in on a decision.
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
.jpg)
.jpg)
