Titans Set To Hire Brian Daboll As Offensive Coordinator

The Tennessee Titans are on the verge of a significant coaching shakeup, as multiple league sources confirm the team is set to hire former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as their new offensive coordinator—provided he does not secure the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coaching job. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was among the first to report the news on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with the deal hinging on Daboll’s ongoing candidacy in Las Vegas, where he just completed his second interview for the top job.

This move would unite two former New York head coaches in Nashville. Daboll, who was let go by the Giants in November after a disappointing 2-8 start to the 2025 season, would join forces with Robert Saleh, the ex-Jets boss who was hired by the Titans on January 20, 2026, following a brief return to the San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator. Saleh’s tenure with the Jets ended five games into his fourth season, with a 20-36 record, but now he’s tasked with reviving a Titans franchise that has missed the playoffs since 2021.

Daboll’s coaching pedigree is well-established. At 50, he brings over two decades of NFL experience, including stints as offensive coordinator for the Browns (2009–2010), Dolphins (2011), Chiefs (2012), and most notably the Buffalo Bills (2018–2021). His work in Buffalo, particularly his role in the rapid development of quarterback Josh Allen, elevated his stock and led to his hire as Giants head coach in 2022. That first season was a bright spot—Daboll guided New York to a 9-7-1 record, a playoff berth, and a wild-card win, earning him the AP NFL Coach of the Year award for 2022.

However, the Giants’ fortunes soured quickly. The team finished 30th and 31st in scoring in 2023 and 2024, with records of 6-11 and 3-14, respectively. Daboll’s overall record in New York closed at 20-40-1. The 2025 campaign was especially tumultuous: after releasing Daniel Jones, New York signed veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, then drafted Jaxson Dart at No. 25 overall. Daboll benched Wilson for Dart after three games, but a concussion sidelined the rookie and the team’s woes continued, ultimately costing Daboll his job. John Harbaugh has since been named his successor in New York.

Now, Daboll’s next chapter could be in Tennessee, where he would inherit an offense desperate for a spark. The Titans finished the 2025 season with a 3-14 record, firing head coach Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start. Offensively, Tennessee averaged just 16.7 points per game—third fewest in the NFL—and a meager 259.6 yards per contest, ranking near the bottom of the league. The team’s last playoff appearance was in 2021, and with a new stadium planned for 2027, the pressure is mounting to turn things around.

Central to the Titans’ future is quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward’s rookie season was a mixed bag: he threw for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, but also completed just 59.8 percent of his passes and was sacked a league-high 55 times. The Titans’ offensive struggles weren’t entirely on Ward, but his development is now paramount—and that’s where Daboll’s track record becomes especially relevant.

Daboll’s offensive philosophy is rooted in the Erhardt-Perkins system, which emphasizes a concept-based passing attack and uses the run to set up big plays downfield. He’s known for adapting his scheme to his personnel, incorporating play-action and vertical passing concepts—elements that could play to Ward’s strengths. Perhaps most importantly, Daboll has shown a willingness to lean on the run-pass option (RPO), a staple of Ward’s college success at Miami. Last year, Daboll’s Giants ranked fourth in the NFL in RPO usage at 12.6 percent, a promising sign for integrating Ward’s skillset into the Titans’ attack.

The Titans’ interest in Daboll reportedly dates back to the last draft cycle, when the Giants tried to trade up to select Ward but were rebuffed by Tennessee, who made him their franchise quarterback. Now, a year later, Daboll may finally get his chance to guide Ward’s development firsthand. According to ESPN, "Daboll has a history of working with successful quarterbacks, such as Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Allen and, most recently, Jaxson Dart." His experience with young passers is expected to be a major asset as the Titans try to unlock Ward’s potential.

Beyond his work with Allen, Daboll’s resume includes coaching Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa in 2017 during his lone season at Alabama, as well as multiple stints under Bill Belichick in New England. His ability to adapt and innovate offensively has made him a coveted hire this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles were reportedly interested in bringing Daboll in as their offensive coordinator, but with the Titans’ move, that door appears to have closed. The Bills, too, considered Daboll for their head coaching vacancy before promoting Joe Brady on January 27, 2026.

For the Titans, this move signals a clear break from the West Coast offense Ward ran as a rookie. While the terminology and some concepts will change, Daboll’s arrival is expected to bring more flexibility and creativity to the offense. As one league source told The Athletic, "With Daboll, Ward’s future would likely see more reliance on the run-pass option (RPO), which he used successfully as a senior at Miami." That adaptability could be the key to jumpstarting a Titans offense that has struggled to find its identity in recent years.

Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet. Daboll remains a leading candidate for the Raiders’ head coaching job, with other contenders including Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Should Las Vegas choose a different direction, Daboll will be headed to Nashville, where he’ll have "complete autonomy over an offense that has 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at the quarterback position," according to Sports Illustrated.

The Titans’ coaching overhaul is a bold gamble, pairing two coaches who faced setbacks in New York with a franchise eager to return to relevance. If Daboll does land in Tennessee, all eyes will be on how he and Saleh reshape the team’s offensive identity—and, perhaps most importantly, how quickly they can help Cam Ward blossom into the franchise quarterback the Titans envisioned on draft day.

As the coaching carousel spins and the Titans prepare for a new era, the anticipation in Nashville is palpable. Whether Daboll ends up in silver and black or Titans blue, his next move will have ripple effects across the NFL landscape. For now, the Titans and their fans are watching and waiting, hopeful that this bold hire could finally spark the turnaround they’ve been craving.