Robert Saleh’s hunt for a defensive coordinator is exploring best of both worlds with first four official interview requests

New Titans HC Robert Saleh is searching for his first lieutenant on defense.

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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With the Robert Saleh introductory press conference looming this Wednesday, the Tennessee Titans’ new head coach is working hard to lock down his coordinators. All eyes are trained on the offensive side of the ball, because the play calling leader of Cam Ward & Co. is absolutely critical to complement Saleh’s defensive mind.

But he also has an important defensive hire to consider. While the next Titans DC won’t call plays, he will be critical to the logistics and dirty work involved with whipping a lacking defensive roster into shape. We so far know of four candidates requested to interview with Tennessee, and he’s not just sticking to people he knows.

Updates on Robert Saleh’s DC interviews

NFL fans love to bicker about “buddy hires”, but the reality is that this is a who-you-know league just like most industries are. But Saleh has so far expressed interest in a pair of coaches he knows, and a pair he has not worked with in the past.

One coach he has a history with is Falcons pass game coordinator Mike Rutenberg.

Rutenberg was in Jacksonville in various low-level defensive coaching roles in 2014-2016 while Saleh was there as the linebackers coach. They reunited when Saleh brough him to San Francisco for a year in 2020 as his passing game specialist, then Saleh hired him to his staff as head coach of the Jets from 2021-2024 as linebackers coach.

The other familiar coach is Cowboys DL coach Aaron Whitecotton.

Whitecotton and Saleh were on that same Jacksonville staff in the mid-2010’s as Rutenberg, reunited in San Francisco for a year in 2020 also, and then Saleh brought Whitecotton onto his Jets staff from 2021-2024. Clearly, Saleh likes to roll with these two guys.

Bears DBs/pass game coordinator Al Harris is the first newcomer that Saleh is considering. 2026 will be Harris’ 15th year in coaching after a 15 year career as an NFL cornerback. He was a defensive assistant in Kansas City from 2014-2018 while GM Mike Borgonzi was there.

The other unknown so far is Texans DBs coach Dino Vasso. Saleh and Vasso have not crossed paths in their careers, but Vasso reportedly comes highly recommended by mentors Matt Burke (Texans DC) and Jim Schwartz (current Browns DC and former longtime Titans defensive assistant).

Vasso was also in Kansas City for three season while GM Mike Borgonzi was there. He’s been the cornerbacks and then DBs coach of a recently excellent Houston defense since 2021.

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