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New Titans’ head coach Robert Saleh discussed what he learned from his time with the New York Jets during Thursday’s official press conference.
Robert Saleh spent four years as head coach of the New York Jets, compiled a 20-36 record with no playoff appearances, and got fired five games into his fourth season. But if you ask him what he learned from that experience, he’ll flip the question on you.
NFL News: Tennessee Titans Head Coach Robert Saleh Reflects on New York Jets Job
“The proper question would be what didn’t I learn?” Saleh said Thursday at his introductory press conference as Tennessee Titans head coach.
That self-awareness extends to the specific changes Saleh plans to make in his second shot at running an NFL team. The biggest one? He’s calling defensive plays this time around. Not because he’s a control freak, but because he realized he lost something critical during his Jets tenure—his connection to the players.
#Titans players in attendance include Cam Ward, Elic Ayomanor, Jackson Slater, Kevin Winston Jr.
Saleh didn’t call plays in New York. He handed that responsibility to his defensive coordinators and took a step back from the in-game decision-making that had defined his previous roles. The result left him feeling disconnected from the team he was supposed to lead.
Read: Titans, Robert Saleh have Big Plans for Cam Ward.
“I didn’t call plays in New York, and I just kind of gave it all to the coordinators,” Saleh explained. “I joke with Borgo (Mike Borgonzi), on game day, when I didn’t call plays, I felt like I was just a timeout and red flag guy. I had the greatest seat in the house as a fan.”
Titans Head Coach Aims to Connect With Players
The fix isn’t about ego or reclaiming authority. It’s about reconnecting with the players who execute the game plan.
“Calling plays for me, it’s not necessarily about control, but it’s about connecting with the players,” Saleh said. “When you are a play caller, and you are calling plays, you feel the strain that you’re putting on ’em. With each call, you’re feeling the connection; you’re feeling what each one is going through. I can feel the weight of the play call on individual players in those moments.”
Saleh described how calling plays allows him to experience the emotional highs and lows alongside his players rather than observing from a distance.
“When that player executes that moment, what you see from me is I become a fan, and I become their parents, their biggest fans, and just elated for that person who just made that play,” Saleh said. “But it takes a connection, which goes back to why I have this desire to call plays to regain that connection because again, you feel the moment with the player.”
Asked if he plans to be more involved in all phases of practice despite calling plays, Saleh confirmed nothing else about his role changes. He’ll still be active with the offense and special teams. He’ll still oversee the entire operation. But now he’ll have his hands directly in the defensive game plan execution on Sundays.
Saleh admitted he might have held back parts of his personality during his Jets’ tenure. With the renewed connection that comes from calling plays, his emotions will likely show up more authentically.
Jets Experience Taught Saleh Lessons He’s Applying in Tennessee
Beyond the play-calling adjustment, Saleh’s broader takeaway from New York centers on growth.
“There’s no handbook to a first time at anything you do,” Saleh said. “There are so many learning experiences that I had. I can assure you that there was tremendous growth through the opportunity that I had with the Jets, and through that growth, I think I’m more prepared now than I’ve ever been to attack this position.”
That mindset—viewing the Jets’ tenure as education rather than failure—positions Saleh to apply those lessons in Tennessee without carrying the baggage of a 20-36 record. He spent four years figuring out what works and what doesn’t at the highest level of coaching. Now he gets to implement those lessons with a young Titans roster that needs leadership and a clear identity.
According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, plenty of Titans were in attendance at Thursday’s press conference. Maybe that’s step one of forming an organizational bond. Regardless, Saleh learned the hard way that disconnection breeds mediocrity. Now he’s determined to stay plugged in.
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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