As Robert Saleh retools Tennessee's staff, defensive specialist Dalton Hilliard emerges as a pivotal figure poised to revolutionize the secondary through a sophisticated, modern nickel-defense approach.
Given how bad the Tennessee Titans have been recently, there probably isn't a long line of teams targeting their assistant coaches.
Former head coach Brian Callahan has found a new job since being fired after that Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last year. He is now the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants.
His father, Bill Callahan, who was the offensive line coach for the last two seasons, has a new job as well. Callahan is now the offensive line coach of the Atlanta Falcons on the staff of Kevin Stefanski.
Not even the offensive line guru himself could fix the disastrous Titans' offensive line during his time here, as they were top 10 in sacks allowed both years he was here.
The Titans have a brand-new coaching staff in place with Robert Saleh as head coach. His staff includes two former head coaches.
Brian Daboll is the offensive coordinator after being the head coach of the New York Giants from 2022-25. Gus Bradley is the defensive coordinator and was a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2013-16.
Daboll will try to bring his Giants offense to the Titans in the hopes to revive what was a bottom 10 unit in the league last year. Bradley is hoping to improve a defense that had plenty of holes.
There's another Titans assistant who isn't being paid as much and whom The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue predicted would have a breakout year in 2026.
Her most recent article listed assistant coaches primed for a breakout for every NFL team and listed defensive backs and nickels coach Dalton Hilliard.
"Hilliard will be in his first NFL coaching season after a decade in college football," Rodrigue said. "While Tennessee’s new coaching staff is a bit of a wild card, its structure shows real potential — and part of my reasoning starts with Hilliard. To split the three DBs coaches (safeties, cornerbacks, nickels) into more specific designations is interesting in itself and extremely in tune with the modern game. But to have a coach in Hilliard who will specialize in nickel players (whether corner, safety or hybrid linebacker) speaks even further to how head coach Robert Saleh wants to react to the latest offensive evolutions that force defenses to cover “move” players of all sizes, from tight ends (including out of heavier personnel groupings) to fullbacks and large slot receivers. This might be a really smart way to structure a defensive staff in this era, and Hilliard will play a key role in that."
Hilliard has his first NFL job with the Titans after spending time in the college ranks with Colorado State, UConn, UCLA, Arkansas State and UT-Martin.
The Titans are using a unique approach with the defensive backs coaches, dividing them into specific groups.
With how bad the secondary was last season, the Titans are willing to try anything to get it right. Hopefully, the new additions of Alontae Taylor and Cor'Dale Flott will make things easier on a defense that allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game (248.3) last season.
If all goes well, Hilliard could be up for other jobs in the offseason.
