According to multiple reports, the Tennessee Titans are finalizing a deal to hire San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as their next head coach. The Titans conducted an in-person interview with Saleh on Monday as part of the hiring process. The team also completed an in-person interview with Matt Nagy.


Saleh had been scheduled to meet with the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday, but that interview is now unlikely to take place.


Saleh has just completed the first season of his second stint with the 49ers. He previously served as San Francisco's defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2020 before being hired as head coach of the New York Jets.

The Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins also showed interest in Saleh earlier in the hiring cycle before filling their head coaching vacancies. In addition to the Titans and Cardinals, the Baltimore Ravens were reportedly among the teams that expressed interest.

San Francisco will once again be searching for a defensive coordinator, marking the fifth different person to hold the role in five years. DeMeco Ryans left after the 2022 season to become the head coach of the Houston Texans. Steve Wilks was dismissed following the 2023 season, and Nick Sorensen was let go after the 2024 season before Saleh was brought back.

The 49ers have Gus Bradley on staff, serving as the team's assistant head coach and a potential natural successor to Saleh. However, San Francisco is expected to evaluate all of its options.


On Monday, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner was asked about the possibility of losing Saleh to a head coaching job for the second time in his career.


"It would suck a lot. It would suck a lot," Warner said with a laugh. "Of course, I always think about Saleh the man, and the relationship that we have. And of course, I want him to have that opportunity again.

"But selfishly, of course, I want him to stay here as well and have a chance at going and winning this thing next season," Warner added. "But we'll see. Time will tell."

For those wondering, the 49ers are not eligible to receive a compensatory draft pick for losing Saleh, as minority candidates must have been with a team for at least two seasons to qualify.

San Francisco's defense, plagued by injuries, finished the regular season ranked 20th in total yards allowed and 13th in points allowed. The 49ers reached the playoffs with a 12–5 record, defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round, and were eliminated by the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round.

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