Robert Saleh faces his former team as Tennessee fights to snap a 16-year home opener drought against a rebuilding Jets squad in a high-stakes Week 1 showdown.
The Tennessee Titans have now officially released their 2026 schedule.
Various reunions are taking place for people like head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. This season will also be the first time that the Titans see Derrick Henry since his contract ended with the franchise in 2023, per Spotrac.
Saleh is facing the New York Jets in Week 1, the team he was the head coach of before the Titans. The Titans are taking on Daboll's old team, the New York Giants, as he'll return to his old stomping grounds.
Henry welcomes the Titans to Baltimore in the first week of November.
Saleh has a chance to either extend or end an unfortunate streak for the Titans or Jets in Week 1. The Titans haven't won at home in Week 1 since the 2010 season. The Jets haven't won an opening Sunday since 2015.
The Titans last beat the Oakland Raiders 38-13 in their home season opener in 2010. Vince Young threw for 154 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Chris Johnson led the team with 142 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
It was the twilight of the Vince Young era at quarterback in the Music City. He played in nine games with eight starts that year before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011.
The Titans finished that season at 6-10, missing the playoffs.
For the Jets, their last win in their season opener was against the Cleveland Browns. The Jets won that game by a score of 31-10, taking down Heisman winner Johnny Manziel and the Browns.
The Jets had Ryan Fitzpatrick as their quarterback and had a solid season. They went 10-6, but missed the playoffs. All the Jets needed to do was beat the Buffalo Bills, but they lost 22-17 in the final week of the regular season.
Week 1 will offer a unique opportunity for both franchises. For the Titans, it's a chance to get off on the right foot in the Saleh era.
On paper, the Jets don't look to be world beaters.
Geno Smith is set to be the starting quarterback. The Jets also traded away one of their best defensive players, Sauce Gardner, to the Indianapolis Colts last season.
The Titans upgraded many positions this offseason. Receiver, defensive line and cornerback received the biggest upgrades.
However, as we've seen before, nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. Outside of the preseason, fans will get to the see the Titans product on the field for the first time on Sept. 13 at Nissan Stadium.