Titans Head Coach Search 2026 (Working on deal with Saleh)

[Justafan]

I know many here will disagree, but McCarthy makes a ton of sense in my opinion. He's proven, will bring in (and maintain) a solid coaching staff, will likely retain Fossell, has ties to Brinker, and has a vertical west coast system that I think fits Cam Ward well.  There are red flags with all of these candidates, and I could break them all down, but they ALL come with red flags and unknowns. 

 

There are legitimate criticisms and risks. He's not an elite game manager, and if he brings in someone like Joe Barry to run the defense, I would barf, but start asking yourself about the coaching staff the other candidates would bring in, and if their system fits Cam Ward's strengths, and whether they will even want the job, given the recent instability. Most of the young guys would be dart throws similar to what Callahan was. Most of the older guys never saw success anything close to what McCarthy has and likely would struggle to assemble a staff as competent. 

 

As much as I hate it... and I kinda do... I keep coming back to McCarthy. 

Edited January 2 by Justafan

[reo]

2 hours ago, Justafan said:

I know many here will disagree, but McCarthy makes a ton of sense in my opinion. He's proven, will bring in (and maintain) a solid coaching staff, will likely retain Fossell, has ties to Brinker, and has a vertical west coast system that I think fits Cam Ward well.  There are red flags with all of these candidates, and I could break them all down, but they ALL come with red flags and unknowns. 

 

There are legitimate criticisms and risks. He's not an elite game manager, and if he brings in someone like Joe Barry to run the defense, I would barf, but start asking yourself about the coaching staff the other candidates would bring in, and if their system fits Cam Ward's strengths, and whether they will even want the job, given the recent instability. Most of the young guys would be dart throws similar to what Callahan was. Most of the older guys never saw success anything close to what McCarthy has and likely would struggle to assemble a staff as competent. 

 

As much as I hate it... and I kinda do... I keep coming back to McCarthy. 

 

 

Same. I keep coming back to McCarthy. We need someone that knows how to be a HC. 

 

I was looking at this though:

 

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/7-nfl-head-coaches-could-151638799.html

 

if Mike McDaniel is fired in Miami... what about hiring McCarthy and pairing him w/ McDaniel as OC? That could be an interesting combo if they could work together to design an offense. Not sure if they would though. Very possibly McCarthy would want to be the guy in that regard.

[Justafan]

I like McDaniel, but I don't see McCarthy bringing in an unknown in as an OC when there are guys he is more familiar with who are available (Joe Philbin and Nathanial Hackett immediately come to mind). McDaniel is more of a Shanahan guy and will likely seek familiarity with someone running that system somewhere. 

[reo]

Honestly I don't think he's going anywhere anyway.

[titanskick8851]

So the initial list will almost assuredly include;

Matt Nagy
Mike McCarthy

Jeff Hafley

Chris Shula

Robert Saleh

Vance Joseph

Jesse Minter

TBD
Anthony Weaver
Arthur Smith
Mike McCoy
John Fassell

Dennard Wilson

[titanskick8851]

4 hours ago, TeamRamrod said:

Suss just said on a Football Show he thinks they might interview like 15 people. Which I’ve been saying for awhile 

 Good make the most exhaustive search possible. Won't need to rush since some of the guys will be in the playoffs and I don't see anyone clamoring to get Nagy or McCarthy hired within the first two weeks of January.

[CaliTitan3518]

7 hours ago, ctm said:

Give me a HC and coordinators who have done it before.  No rookies.

I think it has to go beyond just doing it. They need to have had success doing it. 

[titanskick8851]

Thought this was worthwhile in sharing as we get ready for the start of interviews after this week's finale.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6034176/2025/01/06/nfl-head-coach-interview-process/

This article was from last year, so the dates are a couple of days off.

 

NFL head coach interview process/rules

 

- The NFL has a series of rules for head coach interviews:

Teams with open head-coaching positions were able to begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams on Jan. 6. Those interviews must happen virtually before the end of divisional-round games.

Last year, the NFL recommended that teams with open head-coaching positions used this “virtual interview window” to set up initial interviews so those teams would be eligible to request a second interview with a candidate from a Super Bowl team during the bye week.

Note: Teams may not interview employees of other teams that didn’t make the postseason until the third day after the employer teams’ Week 18 game (for example, Jan. 7 for a game on Jan. 4, or Jan. 8 for a game on Jan. 5).

 

- These are the interview requirements for coaches of teams in the postseason:

If the employer team has a bye in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after Week 18 games and must happen before the end of wild-card games.

If the employer team is participating in the wild-card round, virtual interviews may begin three days after the team’s wild-card game and must happen before the end of the divisional-round games.

 

- Starting the day after the divisional round ends:

Teams can conduct in-person or virtual interviews with candidates employed by other NFL teams whose seasons ended.

Teams cannot hold initial interviews with candidates employed by teams participating in the AFC and NFC championship games until the end of the employer team’s season. A candidate’s employer team may not voluntarily grant permission for those interviews.

 

- During the bye week between conference championships and the Super Bowl:

Second interviews, either in-person or virtual, are allowed with head coach candidates employed by teams in the Super Bowl. The team(s) conducting the interviews must notify the employer team(s).

Contact with head coach candidates in the Super Bowl is not allowed from during the Super Bowl week until the day after the game.

Additionally, no contract signing, contract announcement or contract agreement is permitted until after the end of the employer team’s season.
 

- What about coaches not employed by NFL teams?

Teams looking to interview candidates that aren’t employed by NFL teams, most notably former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, can do so now without restrictions. For example, the Jets interviewed former Carolina and Washington coach Ron Rivera last week.

 

- What about college coaches?

The NFL’s notes do not address college coaches. Teams can interview those coaches now.

 

- What is the Rooney Rule?

NFL teams must also abide by the Rooney Rule, the league’s policy that requires teams to interview candidates from minority groups for head coach, general manager and executive positions. The rule was adopted in 2003 and named after Dan Rooney, the former owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL’s Workplace Diversity Committee.

The rule was established to increase diversity in team leadership and has been amended multiple times since it was introduced to broaden the scope of included groups — such as women — and roles.

Regarding head coaching jobs, teams must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external candidates who are people of color and/or women. Virtual interviews don’t satisfy Rooney Rule requirements, per the NFL.

[TeamRamrod]

If McDaniel gets fired, you interview him for head coach. Not OC.

 

God. Imagine hiring Mike McCarthy over Mike McDaniel.

Edited January 2 by TeamRamrod

[TeamRamrod]

 

[titanruss]

I really hope Stefanski gets fired. We need an Offensive guy to keep it all in the system for several years. 

 

For me its Stefanski and Harbaugh (if fired), Hafley, Nagy, Shula in the top tier. 

 

Then Kingsbury and Kubiak or McCarthy....

 

After that it's a bunch of D coordinators meatheads and unprovens. 

 

Edited January 2 by titanruss

[rns90]

Sounds like it’s very likely that Stefanski gets fired.

 

Morris might have saved his job with the winning streak to end his year .

 

Bowles may have done the opposite.

 

Gannon and Carroll seem like toast in both ARZ and LV.

 

TBD on Mike McDaniel and Steichen.

[tgo]

"Borgonzi will lead a process that will involve president of football operations Chad Brinker, assistant GM Dave Ziegler, VP/football adviser Reggie McKenzie and VP of player personnel Dan Saganey for the first round, over Zoom, with owner Amy Adams Strunk likely to meet the finalists for the in-person round."

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/what-were-hearing-biggest-nfl-coaching-decisions-ahead-of-week-18

[AussieTitanFan08]

10 minutes ago, tgo said:

"Borgonzi will lead a process that will involve president of football operations Chad Brinker, assistant GM Dave Ziegler, VP/football adviser Reggie McKenzie and VP of player personnel Dan Saganey for the first round, over Zoom, with owner Amy Adams Strunk likely to meet the finalists for the in-person round."

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/what-were-hearing-biggest-nfl-coaching-decisions-ahead-of-week-18

 

Good to see zero mention of Bryce Wasserman being involved.

[titanruss]

So to clarify ( if it follows the same path) 

 

The first day we can interview non playoff teams is Tuesday the 6th for teams that play on Saturday and Wednesday the 7th for non-playoff teams that play on Sunday. 

For teams on a bye during the wildcard week it's Wednesday the 7th. 

For wildcard teams its 3 days after they play... so the Tuesday 13th or Wednesday the 14th

We can also interview coaches that make the superbowl during the bye week before the big game.