4 days ago
2
The list of candidates the Tennessee Titans have requested to speak to in their coaching search is growing to include Robert Saleh, Arthur Smith and Jeff Hafley, a source confirmed to The Tennessean.
Smith, the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator, is the candidate most familiar to Titans fans. Before serving as Falcons coach from 2021-23, Smith was a Titans assistant from 2011-20, including a stint as offensive coordinator in 2019-20. Smith's offenses were some of the most productive in Titans history and generated career years for quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry, as well as playoff success as the Titans made a run to the AFC Championship game in 2019-20.
Advertisement
Saleh, now the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-24, though he was fired early in the 2024 season. His defenses ranked among the NFL's best in 2022 and 2023, but his offenses never matched that success, primarily because of inconsistent quarterback play and struggles to find the right offensive coordinator.
Hafley is one of the few candidates the Titans are speaking to who doesn't have NFL head coaching experience, but he was a college head coach at Boston College. Hafley now serves as Green Bay's defensive coordinator, a post he's held for two season.
Other candidates the Titans are speaking to or have spoken to for the vacancy include Chiefs coordinators Matt Nagy and Steve Spagnuolo, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and former NFL head coaches like Kevin Stefanski, Raheem Morris and Jason Garrett.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans coaching search: Robert Saleh, Arthur Smith, Jeff Hafley get interviews
English (US) ·