Leadership and Coordinators
- Owner: Amy Adams Strunk Controlling Owner and Co-Chairman, Board of Directors Adams Strunk authorized another coaching reset after a three-win season but kept Mike Borgonzi in charge of the roster. The organization is asking for visible progress around Cam Ward, not another restart.
- Decision Maker: Mike Borgonzi — General Manager Borgonzi holds final authority over the roster and has aggressively changed the depth chart entering his second year. His central responsibility is building a functional environment for Ward while restoring speed and pressure on defense.
- Head Coach: Robert Saleh Saleh returns to a head-coaching role with a reputation for defensive teaching and player development. He inherits a young quarterback, an elite defensive tackle and a roster that cannot afford to lose confidence during another transition.
- Offensive Coordinator: Brian Daboll Daboll’s history with developing quarterbacks makes him a pivotal figure in Ward’s second season. The offense adds route-winning receivers and a young vertical target but still must prove the line can protect consistently.
- Defensive Coordinator: Gus Bradley Bradley brings a defined front-and-coverage structure to Saleh’s defense. The staff has rebuilt the cornerback group and added veteran line help around Jeffery Simmons.
- Special Teams Coordinator: John Fassel Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Fassel oversees a phase that already features All-Pro returner Chimere Dike. New punter Tommy Townsend is expected to strengthen field position and operation consistency.
2025 Season Recap
Tennessee’s 2025 season was never likely to be smooth, but 3–14 and an 0–6 AFC South record forced another organizational reset. The Titans finished last in the division, scored only 284 points and allowed 478. They changed head coaches during the season and spent the final months balancing short-term competitiveness with the development of rookie quarterback Cam Ward. A few young players emerged, but the roster around them was not stable or deep enough to sustain winning football.
Ward’s season supplied the most important source of optimism. The first overall pick threw for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions, setting a franchise rookie benchmark for protecting the ball with a 1.3 percent interception rate. Those numbers do not fully capture his circumstances. Ward played behind an offense that regularly fell behind the chains, absorbed heavy pressure and lacked a consistently healthy receiving group. He still showed the arm angles, creativity and late-down courage that made him the center of Tennessee’s rebuild.
The cost of that environment was visible. Ward was sacked too often and frequently had to create outside structure. His season ended with a shoulder injury suffered while diving for a touchdown against Jacksonville in Week 18. The play reflected both his competitiveness and the danger of asking a young quarterback to compensate for too many breakdowns. Tennessee’s 2026 priority is not simply increasing his statistics; it is giving him a repeatable offense in which he can win before improvisation becomes necessary.
Tony Pollard gave the unit a dependable rushing presence, finishing with 1,082 yards. Calvin Ridley’s broken fibula and high-ankle sprain limited him to seven games, removing the offense’s most proven vertical receiver. Rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike gained valuable experience, while tight end Gunnar Helm earned a role. Dike became one of the season’s brightest stories: his work as a returner earned first-team All-Pro recognition after he averaged 17.3 yards per punt return and produced 1,588 kickoff-return yards.
The defense’s clear centerpiece was Jeffery Simmons. He delivered one of the best seasons of his career, recording 11 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 60 pressures while leading NFL interior linemen in solo tackles. Opponents could devote protection help to him and still struggle to keep him out of the backfield. The problem was everything the defense needed to do after Simmons created disruption. Tennessee did not have enough reliable coverage, complementary rush or situational execution to prevent opponents from scoring 28.1 points per game.
There were isolated signs of resilience. The Titans rallied to beat Arizona 22–21, won a difficult snowy game in Cleveland and delivered their most complete performance in a 26–9 victory over Kansas City. Those wins showed that the roster did not quit. They also highlighted the inconsistency: Tennessee could produce credible NFL football in stretches, then lose leverage, protection or tackling discipline for entire quarters.
The winless division record was especially damaging. Jacksonville and Houston were playoff teams, but Tennessee also failed to make Indianapolis pay during its seven-game collapse. The gap was not confined to quarterback play. The Titans needed better depth, more explosive receiving options, a rebuilt cornerback room and a defense capable of creating manageable game scripts.
That reality led to Robert Saleh’s hiring and a broad roster overhaul. Brian Daboll arrived to guide Ward. Wan’Dale Robinson, Carnell Tate and a healthier Ridley give the quarterback a far more varied receiver group, while Jermaine Johnson II, John Franklin-Myers, Alontae Taylor and Cor’Dale Flott change the defensive depth chart. The 2026 Titans are still developing, but Year 2 of Ward’s career must look different: fewer survival plays, more defined answers and enough defensive support to keep growth from being buried by another double-digit-loss season.
2025 AFC South Standing
- 1. Jacksonville Jaguars — 13–4 (5–1 division) — Lost WC PF: 474 · PA: 336
- 2. Houston Texans — 12–5 (5–1 division) — Lost DR PF: 404 · PA: 295
- 3. Indianapolis Colts — 8–9 (2–4 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 466 · PA: 412
- 4. Tennessee Titans — 3–14 (0–6 division) — Missed Playoffs PF: 284 · PA: 478
Tennessee finished ten games behind Jacksonville and went winless inside the division. Its minus-194 point differential was the clearest measure of how much work remained beyond Ward’s individual development.
Notable 2026 Player Additions
- WR Wan’Dale Robinson Robinson arrives after a 92-catch, 1,014-yard season and gives Ward a proven separator from the slot. His familiarity with Daboll should accelerate the offense’s installation.
- EDGE Jermaine Johnson II (trade, Jets) Johnson brings burst and a more dangerous edge presence opposite the rest of Saleh’s front. Staying healthy is central to realizing that impact.
- DL John Franklin-Myers Franklin-Myers recorded 7.5 sacks in 2025 and can align inside or outside. Pairing him with Simmons gives Tennessee more ways to create protection conflicts.
- CB Alontae Taylor Taylor can play outside or in the slot and brings four years of starting experience. His physicality fits a secondary being rebuilt around versatility.
- CB Cor’Dale Flott Flott started 14 games in 2025 and defended 11 passes. His length and man-coverage experience give Bradley another flexible option.
Notable 2026 Player Losses
- QB Will Levis Levis was released at final cutdown after falling behind Ward and Mitchell Trubisky. His departure closes Tennessee’s previous quarterback-development plan.
- EDGE Dre’Mont Jones Jones’ exit removes an experienced front-seven defender who supplied alignment flexibility. Franklin-Myers and the younger edge group now absorb those snaps.
- WR Tyler Lockett Lockett’s veteran route craft and leadership are no longer part of the receiver room. Robinson and Tate give the offense a younger identity, but they must replace his situational reliability.
- P Johnny Hekker Hekker’s departure ends a short Tennessee stay. Townsend takes over a role that matters greatly for a team still likely to play several field-position games.
2026 Draft Class
- Round 1, Pick 4 — WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State A smooth outside receiver with strong ball skills and the route detail to become Ward’s long-term primary target.
- Round 1, Pick 31 — EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn A long, powerful edge defender who can set the run immediately while developing a more complete pass-rush plan.
- Round 2, Pick 60 — LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas A fast, aggressive linebacker with pressure ability. He can become a three-down player once his reads and coverage discipline catch up to his physical talent.
- Round 5, Pick 142 — G Fernando Carmona Jr., Arkansas A sturdy interior blocker with developmental starting traits who opens as depth behind the veteran line.
- Round 5, Pick 165 — RB Nick Singleton, Penn State An explosive runner with home-run speed and receiving value. He gives Tennessee a long-term backfield option behind Pollard and Tyjae Spears.
- Round 6, Pick 184 — DT Jackie Marshall, Baylor A powerful rotational defender who can help keep Simmons fresh and compete for early-down work.
- Round 6, Pick 194 — C Pat Coogan, Indiana An experienced center prospect whose communication and toughness suit a developmental reserve role.
- Round 7, Pick 225 — TE Jaren Kanak, Oklahoma A converted linebacker with rare athleticism for the position. A preseason injury placed him on season-ending injured reserve before his rookie year began.
2026 Spotlight Watch
- Hot Seat — Cam Ward Ward’s roster spot is secure, but the franchise needs visible Year 2 progress. Better timing, sack avoidance and command within Daboll’s structure will matter more than isolated highlight throws.
- Breakout Watch — Chimere Dike Dike is already an elite returner. His next step is translating his speed and open-field vision into a larger offensive role, where motion, screens and slot routes can manufacture touches.
- Bust Watch — Jermaine Johnson II Johnson has the talent to become Saleh’s featured edge rusher, but availability has interrupted his career. Tennessee needs a full season of burst and consistent pressure; another injury-disrupted year would leave the defense too dependent on Simmons.
- Team Superstar — Jeffery Simmons Simmons is Tennessee’s proven elite player and emotional standard-setter. His combination of power, quickness and relentless effort can wreck both run and pass plays from the interior.
Prediction
Tennessee’s rebuild fails to find upward momentum in 2026 with the Titans tying for the 5th worst record in the NFL at 3-14.
Below is the complete 2026 regular season projections.
Sources
- NFL: Final 2025 division standings
- Tennessee Titans: 2025 season game recaps
- Tennessee Titans: Front office
- Tennessee Titans: 2026 coaching staff
- Tennessee Titans: 2026 free agency tracker
- Tennessee Titans: 2026 draft notes
- Tennessee Titans: 2026 roster moves
- Tennessee Titans: First 2026 unofficial depth chart
