NFL information: Titans nearing deal to make Robert Saleh head coach

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The Tennessee Titans are the subsequent group off the top coach search board, and so they're going with somebody skilled in that division within the NFL.

Robert Saleh, the San Francisco 49ers ' star defensive coordinator, are working to finalize a take care of the Titans to make him their subsequent head coach, in response to a number of studies.

Saleh couldn’t get issues circled with the New York Jets in his 56 profession video games with the franchise from 2021-24, however the Titans are prepared to provide him one other crack at molding a younger roster centered across the 2025 No. 1 general decide, quarterback Cam Ward.

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San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh talks with linebacker Fred Warner (54) throughout the fourth quarter towards the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Subject on Sept. 7, 2025. (Joe Nicholson/Imagn Photographs)

Saleh marks the fourth head teaching rent on this wild NFL cycle. And the three earlier hires — John Harbaugh (New York Giants), Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta Falcons) and Jeff Hafley (Miami Dolphins) — had been all on the Titans’ interview schedule earlier than being scooped up elsewhere.

The Titans introduced Saleh and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy had in-person interviews on Monday, and it’s clear now the 49ers coach stated all the suitable issues to make possession consider he’s one of the best rent.

Tennessee wasn’t ready any longer, and so they pulled the set off on Saleh, a defensive whiz with a leader-of-men persona that has shined via in his huge expertise as a coach within the league.

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Saleh began getting into the top coach dialog when he acquired his shot as defensive coordinator beneath 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in 2017. The 49ers developed into an amazing group by the 2019 marketing campaign, the place Saleh’s protection performed a significant position in a visit to the Tremendous Bowl. They might in the end lose to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

After a 6-10 season in San Fran the next 12 months, the Jets made Saleh their subsequent head coach, the place his motto, "All Fuel, No Brakes" turned a sticking level for everybody in Florham Park.

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is proven at MetLife Stadium, Sunday December 24, 2023. (Kevin R. Wexler / USA TODAY NETWORK)

However, whereas the Jets’ protection turned probably the greatest models within the sport beneath Saleh’s tutelage, they had been by no means capable of break their postseason drought.

The Jets’ finest file beneath Saleh was 7-10, which got here in back-to-back seasons in 2022 and 2023. Then, after simply 5 video games in 2024, the place the Jets went 2-3, proprietor Woody Johnson made the decision to fireplace Saleh and promote defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim head coach.

Shanahan got here calling for Saleh to take again his position within the Bay Space, and he was dealt a tricky hand with key gamers Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, amongst others, being misplaced for the season as a consequence of damage.

Nonetheless, a younger 49ers protection was coached up by Saleh and the remainder of the employees to supply a unit that took off within the second half. The 49ers completed thirteenth in factors allowed per recreation (21.8), proving to be a gaggle on the rise as they made their technique to the playoffs.

New York Jets coach Robert Saleh reacts towards the Minnesota Vikings within the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Photographs)

Their finest win got here within the Wild Card Spherical, going into Philadelphia and taking down the reigning Tremendous Bowl-champion Eagles to maneuver on. Sadly, the Seattle Seahawks had been an excessive amount of for the 49ers, blowing them out 41-6 this previous Saturday to finish their season.

Simply two days later, Saleh is transferring to "Music Metropolis," the place he faces an identical state of affairs he noticed in New York — a group determined to show issues round before later.

Tennessee has gone 3-14 in every of the final two seasons. However they've the No. 4 general decide on this 12 months’s NFL Draft and 9 complete picks in April.

Additionally, the Titans have a whopping $93.5 million in cap space to spend in free company, the place GM Mike Borgonzi may be aggressive to bolster Saleh’s roster for competitors in what's an bettering AFC South convention.

That is the third job Saleh has had within the AFC South, having coached the Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars prior to now. He was with the Jags from 2014-16 because the group’s linebackers coach earlier than becoming a member of Shanahan in San Francisco.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the sector previous to an NFL soccer recreation towards the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Brooke Sutton/Getty Photographs)

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As for the NFL head teaching search, one other group was added on Monday, with the stunning firing of Buffalo Payments head coach Sean McDermott.

With 4 spots stuffed, six stay within the Payments, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals.