The Tennessee Titans have found their next coach.
The Titans are expected to hire San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as the team’s head coach, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported late Monday night, according to sources.
Garafolo reported that Saleh was scheduled to meet with the Arizona Cardinals regarding their open position, but Tennessee closed the deal for their new head coach.
Saleh, 46, is back at the helm after his second stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. He previously spent three-plus seasons as the head coach of the New York Jets (2021-24), posting a 20-36 record as he handled the QB position throughout his tenure.
Before taking the head coaching job in New York, Saleh spent four seasons as the 49ers DC from 2017 to 2020.
Saleh’s return to the Bay Area saw season-ending injuries to Nick Bosa (torn ACL) and Fred Warner (ankle), but he still led San Francisco to the 13th-ranked defense last campaign.
Despite injuries on both sides of the ball, Saleh and the 49ers managed to go 12-5 in the regular season and earn a chance in Week 18 to secure the NFC’s No. 1 seed. 1. However, San Francisco fell short to Seattle in the final week of the regular season — and fell again to the Seahawks two weeks later in the divisional opener.