Although the Titans had a 3-14 record during Ward’s rookie season, the 23-year-old signal-caller saw himself as the franchise QB for Tennessee. In fact, toward the end of the 2025 season, Ward had a four-game hitting streak as the Titans went 2-2 in Weeks 14-17. He finished the season with 3,169 passing yards for 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, Ward ended the 2025 campaign with a right shoulder injury that has seen him rehabilitate to start the offseason. Saleh would not add a timetable for Ward’s recovery but added that the QB is doing very well.
Now heading into his second season, Ward will have to learn a new playbook with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The former Giants head coach has been known for developing quarterbacks during his NFL stops. As OC in Buffalo, Daboll developed Josh Allen into a star with the Bills before taking the Giants coaching job. In 2022, Daboll helped Daniel Jones and the Giants to the Big Blue’s first postseason berth since 2016. In his final year in New York, Daboll inserted Jaxson Dart into the starting lineup a few weeks into the postseason, making Dart a potential long-term answer at QB for the Giants.
Nevertheless, Saleh believes Daboll’s experience working with quarterbacks could benefit the Titans and Ward.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Saleh said of the OC-QB duo. “I’m sure they’re going to argue with each other every now and then, and they’re going to challenge each other a lot. But that’s exactly the temperament you want out of your quarterback.”
Daboll and Ward will begin their journey together when Tennessee begins organized team practice on May 18.