Fifteen months after he was fired by the Jets, Robert Saleh is leading a franchise again.
Late on Monday night, the former Jets coach and 49ers defensive coordinator agreed to a five-year deal to become the Tennessee Titans’ new coach.
Saleh, 46, was reportedly scheduled to meet with the Cardinals about their coaching opening. However, the Titans closed the deal before Saleh left for Arizona.
This will be Saleh’s second stint as a coach after spending three and a half seasons with the Jets (2021-24). This followed four seasons as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2020.
He was fired in October of 2024 after the Jets got off to a rocky 2-3 start. But it just felt like Saleh was at the wrong place at the wrong time with the Jets.
After compiling a 20-36 record with no playoff appearances with Gang Green, some may question why Saleh received another coaching opportunity. But he earned it during his return as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
San Francisco finished with a 12-5 record and were 13th in the NFL in scoring defense in 2025. This despite All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner and rookie defensive end Mykel Williams, the No. 11 pick in last year’s draft, all suffering injuries. After defeating the Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round, the short-handed 49ers were steamrolled by the Seahawks in the divisional round last week.
Saleh will bring a presence to a Titans organization that is desperately seeking an identity. They haven’t had one since firing Mike Vrabel following the 2023 season.
Last season, the Titans’ defense ranked 28th in points (28.1) and 21st in yards allowed (345.1) per game. Saleh is expected to call defensive plays in Tennessee, something he did not do with the Jets.
Gang Green’s defense was superb during Saleh’s tenure with the Jets. After finishing dead last in yards and points allowed in 2021, the Jets finished with a top-five defensive unit in each of the final few seasons under Saleh.
The inept play at quarterback defines Saleh’s time with the Jets. Shortly after he became the Jets coach, Saleh and then-general manager Joe Douglas traded Sam Darnold, who was the Jets’ No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, to the Panthers. They then selected Zach Wilson No. 2 overall in the 2021 draft later that year.
Darnold bounced around a bit in Carolina and San Francisco before becoming a Pro Bowler with both the Vikings and the Seahawks. Wilson was a draft bust with the Jets.
Saleh and Douglas even tried going the veteran quarterback route after trading for Aaron Rodgers after two failed seasons with Wilson under center. But the 2023 season was derailed when Rodgers tore his Achilles. The Jets finished 5-12 in Rodgers’ second and final year in the Big Apple with Saleh being fired more than a month into the season.
Unlike in his first season leading the green and white, Tennessee has several young players with promising potential. That includes quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The biggest question, though, is who will be the Titans’ offensive coordinator?
Ward has all the tools to become a superstar quarterback. But it will be up to Saleh to bring out the best in the former Miami Hurricane. At times last season, Ward looked every bit the rookie and it appeared his development was stalled. That ultimately cost Brian Callahan his job as the Titans fired him following a 1-5 start and a 4-19 record over two seasons.
Titans are estimated to have over $90 million in cap space, which is one of the largest in the NFL this offseason.
While the entire Titans roster could use an overhaul, developing Ward should be Saleh’s top priority. He threw for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 59.8% of his passes. Ward was 38th in passer rating (80.2) and 28th in QBR (33.3). Ward was also sacked 55 times, the most in the league.
Following the challenges of developing Wilson, Saleh has to know that prioritizing the right offensive staff can help a young QB grow immensely in a short time. Caleb Williams displayed how much growth a young quarterback can have from one season to the next with excellent coaching.
After an inconsistent rookie season, Williams made significant strides under Bears coach Ben Johnson, who is an offensive expert. After finishing last in the division in 2024, the Bears won the NFC North and reached the divisional round before losing to the Rams.
Saleh and Ward hope to follow in Williams and Johnson’s blueprint for success in a short span. With the Jets, his choice of offensive coordinators was always a major storyline. He fired Mike LaFleur after the Jets offense struggled under Wilson. Saleh then hired Nathaniel Hackett (who had been Rodgers’ O-coordinator in Green Bay), and the offense wasn’t much better, finishing near the bottom in yards and points scored.
Several NFL head coaches have achieved success in their second coaching stint. Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick and Mike Shanahan all won Super Bowls after they were fired from their first coaching gigs.
It remains to be seen whether Saleh can achieve the same level of success. But after leading the 49ers defense following a barrage of injuries, Saleh has shown he deserves a second chance.
