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The Titans pool of offensive coordinator candidate to work with Cam Ward is shrinking, which makes the Brian Daboll connection pivotal.
The Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator search just got significantly more urgent—and a lot less crowded.
NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported Sunday on NFL Game Day Morning that the Titans want to hire former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll “as soon as possible,” but they’re stuck waiting while Daboll pursues head coaching opportunities with the Buffalo Bills and Las Vegas Raiders.
From @NFLGameDay Morning on Brian Daboll as HC candidate with the #Bills and #Raiders before turning his attention to OC jobs.
“The Tennessee Titans would like to hire him ASAP, but Daboll is going through the head coaching prospects right now,” Garafolo said. “He interviewed well in Buffalo, why not? Knows the area, knows the team extremely well. Still in the mix there. We’ll see how this develops over the next couple of days for Daboll. Head coach first, then offensive coordinator prospects.”
The timing couldn’t be more complicated for Tennessee. Daboll interviewed for both the Bills and Raiders head coaching jobs this past week, with his Buffalo interview reportedly going well. The Bills completed their interview with Daboll on Jan. 21, according to the Bills’ official “X” account and multiple sources.
NFL News: Tennessee Titans Hope to Hire Brian Daboll for Offensive Coordinator ASAP
The Titans’ urgency to land Daboll intensified over the weekend when Arthur Smith—one of Tennessee’s other top offensive coordinator candidates—shockingly accepted the offensive coordinator position at Ohio State.
According to multiple reports, including Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith left the Pittsburgh Steelers to take over Ohio State’s offense after the Buckeyes lost offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to the South Florida head coaching job.
Smith spent the past two seasons as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator and was interviewing for NFL head coaching and coordinator positions this cycle. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported last Friday that the Titans had spoken to Smith about returning to Tennessee, where he previously served as offensive coordinator from 2019-20.
That option is now off the table. According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Smith had conversations with both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans about their offensive coordinator openings before ultimately choosing Ohio State.
The Daboll Connection Makes Sense for Titans
Daboll’s fit with the Titans goes beyond his offensive track record. According to multiple reports, he has a strong relationship with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi stemming from their time together in Kansas City back in 2012.
That connection matters, especially since Daboll interviewed for Tennessee’s head coaching vacancy earlier this month before the team ultimately selected Robert Saleh. Multiple league sources have indicated Daboll’s interview was more of an offensive coordinator fact-finding mission than a serious head coach candidacy.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported earlier this week that if Daboll doesn’t land the Bills’ head coaching job, he’s expected to wind up in Tennessee as the offensive coordinator for rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
The 50-year-old Daboll spent four years as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator from 2018-21, helping develop quarterback Josh Allen into an MVP candidate before landing the Giants’ head coaching job in 2022. He compiled a 24-43-1 record across four seasons in New York, including one playoff appearance in his first season, before being fired midseason in 2025.
How Long Can the Titans Wait?
Tennessee introduced Saleh as head coach on Wednesday, and the clock is ticking on assembling his offensive staff. With Smith now out of the picture and other top candidates like Mike McDaniel already off the board (he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers), the Titans’ options are dwindling.
The Bills’ coaching search is still in its early stages, with Philip Rivers also emerging as a candidate after interviewing in Buffalo on Friday. If Rivers or another candidate lands the Bills’ job, Daboll would presumably become available for offensive coordinator positions.
But if Buffalo selects Daboll? The Titans will need to pivot quickly.
Pro Football Rumors reported that Daboll’s preferred destination is Buffalo, given his history developing Allen and his familiarity with the organization. That puts Tennessee in an uncomfortable position: its top offensive coordinator target would rather be somewhere else.
The Titans want Daboll immediately and aren’t interested in prolonging this search. But with two head coaching jobs still on Daboll’s radar, Tennessee may have no choice but to wait—or move on to their next option.
Either way, the Titans’ offensive coordinator search just got a lot more interesting.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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