Energy is electric in Nashville as Tennessee’s defensive anchor embraces a gritty new era, fueled by Robert Saleh’s infectious sideline intensity and a massive roster overhaul.
The Tennessee Titans are going from Brian Callahan to Robert Saleh at head coach.
Callahan's background was definitely offensive-minded. Before the Titans, he was the Bengals' offensive coordinator. He got to work alongside Joe Burrow under center.
However, Callahan is proof that just because you are a good assistant coach doesn't mean you are a good head coach. Callahan won four games during his stint in the Music City.
He was fired after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6, halfway through Cam Ward's rookie season.
Now, the Titans are going in a different direction, but it's a familiar one based on recent history.
Saleh is a former head coach but is also more defensive-minded. Before becoming the HC of the New York Jets in 2021, he was a defensive assistant with the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers.
He then returned to the 49ers to be their defensive coordinator again in 2025.
It's still early, but the Titans look much different than they did last season. General Manager Mike Borgonzi made major free-agent signings with Wan'Dale Robinson, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott.
He then added talent through the 2026 NFL Draft, in Carnell Tate, Keldric Faulk, Anthony Hill Jr., Fernando Carmona, Nicholas Singleton, Jackie Marshall, Pat Coogan and Jaren Kanak.
This team has yet to take the field, but Jeffrey Simmons is already buying what Saleh is selling. He appeared on a recent edition of the "Offseason Playbook" and talked about his new head coach.
After watching tape on the San Francisco 49ers last season, Simmons referenced seeing Saleh on the sidelines with a lot of energy as the defensive coordinator.
That's when Simmons knew he could go to war with Saleh.
"You see, we playing San Fran, but for me, I'm watching tape, and I'm like, 'Who the heck is this over here jumping up and down as a coach? You like; that's the defensive coordinator.'" Simmons said. "Like, and you see the energy that he brings, and he's not the head coach, but you see the energy that he has on the sideline, it's contagious. Like, if I have a lot of energy, I'm talking smack, I'm trying to get my guys, my teammates riled up, ready to go, but when you've got your coach doing that on top of you, that's a different level. I think for me as a player and as you know, someone that I could look at what Coach Saleh, and be like, I could go to war with this guy."
Out of all the players for Saleh to convince, Simmons is a pretty good one. He is, without a doubt, one of the leaders on this Titans team and backs it up with his play.
Simmons just made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his NFL career after recording 11 sacks, 67 total tackles and 17 TFLs last season.
It seems the team's leaders are already fans of what Saleh is trying to do. Hopefully, it'll translate to the field after consecutive 3-14 seasons.
