Weekend Mailbag: Titans Fans Share Thoughts After HC Robert Saleh’s Introductory Press Conference

NASHVILLE – Robert Saleh this week was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

A new era of Titans football is now under way, but it’s going to be a busy offseason as the roster will look dramatically different this fall following another free agency class, the NFL Draft.

Plus, a lot of tough decisions need to be made regarding players currently on the roster.

For now, I continue to get a lot of feedback on the Saleh hire.

Let’s dive into this weekend’s mailbag to check it out…

Here’s the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.

George Steiner from Jackson, Mississippi
Question: Hey Jim, it’s been a while since I’ve sent or read a mailbag… wasn’t a whole lot to talk or read about that was positive. Well, I must say, the coaching hires the Titans have now are really encouraging to me. As a 14-year old, the tease that Vrabel brought me with his success has made this dysfunctional era even worse. Saleh was the best coach out there, though, besides Harbaugh. And he was locked into the Giants, so getting Saleh was our best option. To me, he brings a culture that the Titans lack and that they have desperately needed ever since Vrabel was foolishly fired. I hope his locker room impact will be similar to Vrabel’s. With Daboll as the OC, I think he was also the cream of the crop. My main problem with him is that I expect him to be a HC in 1 or 2 years, which is a pretty good problem. My question to you is how much control does the owner Amy Adams Strunk have over these decisions because there were rumors that the only reason Borgonzi didn’t pick Nagy (who would’ve been a bad choice, I think) was because Strunk told him to pick Saleh. So, I want to ask, is that true to your knowledge, and how much control does she have in general over the coaching decisions now? I would not expect you to write something bad about your boss, but I do think it is fair to admit she jumped the gun on Vrabel and I am curious if the result of that decision could have been her ceding control to Borgonzi. Sorry to write so much, just have a lot to get out of my chest 😂. Thanks for all you do Jim; I know you don’t have to do these mailbags, and I appreciate them.

Jim: Good to hear from you, George. Don’t be a stranger. I can tell you some of that chatter about Amy was incorrect. Borgonzi led the search, and while he’s friends with Nagy, and I know he respects him, he was impressed by Saleh, and he was all in on hiring him. He didn’t need to be told to do it. Amy is letting the folks she hires – Borgonzi in this case – work, and do what they think is best. That’s how President of Football Opener Chad Brinker, who led the GM search last offseason, landed on Borgonzi. As for Vrabel, I’ve always said I think he’s a really good coach. And, he’s proven that. But that doesn’t change the fact he went 6-18 in his final 24 games as the head coach here, and put himself in a position to be fired. And, he’s done a hell of a job with the Patriots this year. Lastly, I can pretty much guarantee you he wouldn’t have taken the 2025 Titans to the Super Bowl.

Jonathan Byler from Knoxville, Tennessee
Question: Are they planning to change some coaches and staff during the off-season in addition to Brian Daboll as new Offensive Coordinator and Robert Saleh as our new Head Coach? I’m sure we do need a new Offensive Linemen Coach to fix the abysmal O-Line we had this past season. Any expiring contract players do you think Titans will let them go or trade with other players from other teams? Of course I’m looking forward for this upcoming NFL Draft in April to see how all teams make their picks. And one last question, maybe it’s too early to tell but just take a guess do you think Cam Ward will keep his starting QB again next season or will Will Levis take the reins back to him? For me I’d want Cam Ward to keep his starting QB job since he does show much promises and a lot of room for improvement for him and Titans. TITANS UP!!!

Jim: Hey Jonathan. The answer is yes, there will be a bunch of new coaches on Saleh’s staff, and on Thursday he confirmed in a separate session with reporters that Carmen Bricillo will be the team’s new offensive line coach. Bricillo previously served as the Giants offensive line coach the past two seasons, under Brian Daboll. The team hasn’t announced this move, because it’s not “official.” I’m not expecting us to release Saleh’s new staff until it is complete, which could be a while longer. As for what the team plans to do with players with expiring contracts, a lot will be sorted out. I don’t think things need to be sorted out at QB – Cam Ward is the guy.

Nathan Smith from McMinnville, Tennessee
Question: I’m most excited about the hiring of Carmen Bricillo. Looking at his PFF final year OL rankings is very encouraging. The only time he had an OL rank outside the Top 10 was his first year in NY, but even then, that was after previous 4 years there being ranked 30th or worse. Then last year they finished 9th. HUGE improvements! Go a little deeper and I noticed how both NE and LV O-Lines dropped significantly after he left…coincidence, I think NOT! Looking at LV Final PFF OL rankings for the past 6 years…24, 28, 10, 10, 26, 32…I’ll let you figure out what two years Coach Bricillo was coaching them. Here is my question…Is there a maximum that Titans can pay their assistant coaches, like a coaches salary cap, or can we pay him TOP $ so he doesn’t follow Daboll if he gets a HC next year?

Jim: Speaking of Bricillo … Thanks, Nathan. … And, there is no salary cap for the coaching staff.

Rudi Newman from Vienna, Austria
Question: Greetings from Austria, you mentioned in your last Mailbag it’s not fair to judge a coach on his record because there are so many other factors. I’m totally with you but now it’s too late for Vrabel 😉 I like the hire of Saleh as defensive mind. Like your work and hoping for better times to come for my Titans.

Jim: Appreciate it, Rudi.

Stephan Drayton from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Question: Hi Jim, I been an oiler / titans fans since Robert Brazile and we had some great defenses through out the years I hope we can get back to be a tough,fast hard hitting defense, but the two things I would really like to see happen is that when we open up the new stadium can we make a comeback with naming it (The House Of Pain ) and also can we gets some black uniforms I think it makes teams look tough and intimidating and with Robert Saleh bring back a fast violent defense it only fits please pass this on to Ms. Amy. A lot of us not from Tennessee would like to see those few changes thank you. A Harrisburg Pa. True Blue Fan

Cosme Belmonte from Mexico City, Mexico
Question: Hey Jim! Watching the signings from my perspective, I like Saleh and Daboll. There’s a combination there that I can’t quite describe: Saleh is intense, Daboll is quiet and strategic.
I think they all deserve a fresh start. I don’t want to look back at their head coaching records again.
I have faith and hope in the offseason, the draft, the signings and trades that might happen, and the opening kickoff. Now, I’m also hoping to see my Titans in Oilers uniforms for more games. I hope so.
Cheers, Jim

Jim: I like it, too, Cosme.

Richard Brown from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Hi Jim! I love your mail bag and read it every week. Been a Titans PSL holder from the beginning and have PSL’s for the new stadium. I mention that because I have seen it all with the Titans as have you. Now that the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl, after a 3 win season last year, and Vrabel is the Coach of the year, I know your mailbag this week will be inundated with letters about how idiotic the Titans were to fire him, as shown by the aftermath of both teams. And while I know you will say (as you have in the past), that Vrabel’s time here had run its course, and he had not won the last two years he was here, we must agree to disagree about that. Vrabel’s time had only run its course because of ownership, and the record was the direct result of a terrible GM destroying the franchise with terrible trades and draft picks. Where I won’t disagree with you, and actually agree wholeheartedly, is that it is time to move on. The past is the past and we simply must learn from it moving forward. Nothing we can do about it now. And moving forward, I am incredibly excited about Saleh. He is the same type of genuine leader we had in Vrabel, he connects with his players, and has an incredible reputation in this league from everything I have read. Those saying we should have hired an offensive minded coach are missing the big picture. He is a defensive genius, he will hire a great offensive coordinator, and the players will play incredibly hard for him. That is what you want in a head coach. This was a great hire. And with the soon to be great Cam Ward at QB, the pieces we have in place, and the cap space and draft capital we have, it is obvious now that the future is very bright. Can we please just fast forward to September? Not sure I can wait 9 months to see what the next version of the Titans looks like! I miss football already and we have not even played the Super Bowl.

Jim: Hey Richard. I’m not surprised to be getting Vrabel emails in here. And, to some degree, you’re right about the failures of the previous GM impacting his success/the vibes in the building here. But there were other factors as well. Still, as you said, there’s nothing anyone can do about it now. I appreciate you writing in. Hopefully there will be brighter days ahead.

Josh Carter from Chattanooga, Tennessee
Question: Hi Jim, This has been an exciting off-season already for Titans fans. Coach Saleh brings significant energy to the team, and the Offensive Coordinator opening seems like an attractive opportunity for a former head coach with an established system. I haven’t heard much discussion regarding the influence Robert Saleh might have on attracting defensive free agents. He is already being linked to several innovative young position coaches. How likely is it that defensive free agents will be drawn to the Titans due to the reputation and prowess of our new defensive-minded head coach?

Jim: Good question, Josh. Hard to say for sure, but I think Saleh’s presence should help attract defensive players. But let’s not forget, money talks…

Brian Oare from Broadalbin, New York
Question: Hi Jim. Thanks for responding to my question, but I wouldn’t bet on Borgonzi & Saleh being gone in 2027 myself! You see, I’m a Houston Oilers fan since the 1980s that has a very pessimistic view as a result of the kind of luck this team has had over several decades. Basically, I am a glass half empty, cracked and leaking kind of person because of the Oilers/Titans performance and decision making over those decades.
My wish is for Saleh to be successful and get the team back to a winning record. I would have had more confidence had the hire been one of the “Mc’s” (McDermott, McDaniels, or McCarthy) that have proven track records for winning teams.
Anyway, I hope to get the opportunity to experience a Titans home game in Nashville one day. Since I’d be making the trip from NY, should I wait for the new building before I make that trip? Thanks.

Jim: Hey Brian. This is a tough question. The new stadium is going to be spectacular, so you’ll definitely want to experience that. But … this will be your last chance to go to the original Nissan Stadium. I say make the trip this fall before it’s torn down!

D Sadler from Memphis, Tennessee
Question: Hello Jim. Just a comment. I appreciate the Titans leadership taking the time to try and find the right leader for this up and coming team. I think that Robert Saleh is a good hire . He needs to be given an opportunity. Many fail to realize what he did for the 49ers and even though the Jets debacle was under him, it was not all on him based on what he was dealt. I’m excited about him and what he can do with this team. Remember He is a defensive mind just like the beloved Mike Vrabel. I’m really hoping that he makes the correct choice on an offensive coordinator to mold Cam. The defense will take care of itself. Let’s “Titan Up ” everyone. I think we are in for a surprise. And remember everyone deserves a second chance. No one is perfect.

Jim: Thanks for chiming in, D.

Jason Vesely from Mosinee, Wisconsin
Question: Hopefully things for Saleh go better this time around, that second chance could be the last chance if his Titans tenure ends up like his tenure with the Jets was. I was hoping Jesse Minter would have been the choice he got picked by Baltimore starting new from scratch with Minter and let him build up the Titans he’ll do good with the Ravens, and the Titans miss out on something they could have potentially hit out of the ballpark on a head coach hire. Saleh, reminds me of Pete Carroll, a solid defensive coach it took Carroll his tenure with the Seahawks to find success, after a flop with the Jets, and then he got a second chance with the Patriots, flopped there, then went to USC, did great there in college, went back to the NFL with San Francisco as DC, then went to the Seahawks. If Saleh has a winner in his Titans tenure, then that’s great.

Jim: Time will tell, Jason. Hope all is well.

Jack Walker from Calabasas, California
Question: Hey Jim, I like the Saleh hire! The talk of speed and violence and swagger are music to my ears. Historically the Titans have had great defenses… I think the pieces will be in place for a better season in 26, it’ll be up to the players to hit that level of expectations or get replaced

Jim: Hey Jack. It’s nice to have some optimism back in the air.

Kenny Ospital from Ogden, Utah
Question: Jim. Hiring Saleh and Daboll is the best thing the Titans have done in years – since hiring Vrabel and Lafleur. I really like Borgonzi’s strategy here. There weren’t many elite defensive minds available for head coach, and there was an abundance of talented Offensive Coordinators available. Very smart play in my opinion.
However, do you know what the plan might be down the road? If this plays out like I think it will play out, Daboll will land a head coaching job after next year. Does Daboll have a protege on his staff waiting in the wings for his time to shine?

Jim: Saleh was actually asked about this on Thursday. Here’s what he said about the Daboll succession plan:
“We’re really excited about the staff that we’ve been able to assemble over the last week since we officially locked arms, if you will. But there’s a plan, I think, when you look at our staff—and obviously there’s still some things that are fluid before we announce all of them to you—but we’ve got a tremendous mixture of experience and youth. We’ve got some young guys that’ll be on the offensive staff that we feel are on the fast track to becoming coordinators. And like I said, for me, the succession plan comes from my seat in terms of what our plan is for each individual coach and how we develop them. I’ve talked about it before, the most cliche statement a coach can make is that it’s our job to develop players. It’s like, ‘Well, no kidding Of course that’s our job, but who are the people developing the coaches who are asked to develop the players?’ You can have a coach in the stone age that’s developing his player, but his players never going to leave the stone age. So how are we keeping our coaches up to date, evolving, staying ahead of the game so our players are constantly evolving and staying ahead of the game? So we have a program for that to make sure that our coaches are constantly evolving and pushing the envelope of what they’re capable of. No different than we’re going to ask our players to push the envelope with what they are capable of. So to go back to your original question, there’s a plan in place. It’ll kind of be revealed once we start revealing our coaches, but it goes beyond the name of the coaches that are involved. It’s going to go to the development that we expect them to have.”

Ryan Elder from Augusta, Georgia
Question: Hey Jim, I am very happy with the way the Titans coaching staff is shaping up. Those zeroed in on Saleh’s poor record fail to recognize context. He led the Jets to a couple of 7-10 seasons where they were literally a couple of plays away from making the playoffs. Saleh desperately lacked a QB while in New York, which I believe he has now. He consistently leads top defenses even when faced with lots of injuries. Combine his defensive prowess with Daboll and Bones, and the Titans look to have great potential for some real complementary football.
Now my question is with the addition of Saleh, Daboll, Whitecotton, and potentially others lacking in hair follicles, will you shave your head to further immerse yourself in the new regime? I think bald with the visor is a great look personally!!

Jim: Hey Ryan. I will not be shaving my head! 😊

Joe White from Kingsport, Tennessee
Question: Hi Jim! I hope all is well. I haven’t written in a while because, well there wasn’t much to write about. But now excitement can start again. Hope springs eternal, right? I want to say that I like the Saleh hire. What he did with that banged up 49ert defense was incredible! Obviously, it will be very important to bring in a good OC to develop Cam, but I think he has tremendous potential. His improvement during last season was very notable. As a side point, I am always impressed how you deal with those that write in. Even the crazy ones that actually think Zach Wilson was better than Cam. Now that is laughable. If we nail the OC pick and QB coach, Cam is going to shock people like him!! Keep up the good work!!

Jim: Thanks for writing in, Joe.

Jeffery Busby from Terrell, Texas
Question: Hope You are surviving this cold weather this winter. I am glad to read all the work You do and thank You for it. I am glad they finally made their mind Up on a head coach. I am hoping he will get a good coaching staff that will fill some holes and get the team out of last place and back on track. I am one of the ones that stay with the team through the good times and the bad times. I have stayed with them for 50 years. I was a Houston Oilers fan living in Dallas Cowboy country. I still live in that area, but the Tennessee Titans will always be my team no matter what. I wish I could watch them on TV. I keep Up with them on my phone. Let me say one more thing: I pray all of are safe this year and God bless.

Jim: Appreciate it, Jeffery! Sounds like you’re a loyal fan!

Dan Baird from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Sitting in a hotel (where they have actual heat), waiting out the return of electricity. Slightly bummed, and then the news of Daboll hits.
I’m a very happy Titans fan today.
We got my personal dream team of head coach and OC.
If anyone holds Saleh’s record against him, please remember, he was coaching the Jets, who seem to be in the top 5 of most poorly run teams consistently.
I am truly excited for the upcoming season.

Jim: Hey Dan. I hope you got your electricity back!
It’s been a long, cold week in Nashville.

Have a great weekend everyone!