Robert Saleh’s Offensive Coaching Staff Hot Board: Mike McDaniel and other candidates for new Titans offensive coordinator

A running list of offensive coaches who could join Robert Saleh in Tennessee

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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Robert Saleh is the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans, and he now has to turn his attention to building out his coaching staff.

A part of the appeal of Saleh was reportedly the depth of his rolodex. He is expected to field an impressive staff despite an extremely crowded field of new head coaches working to do the same thing. The assistant pool is extremely turbulent this year.

The Titans’ sprawling interview process involved initial talks with a handful of candidates suspected to functionally be coordinator interviews, so I’ve combined those names with this list from coaching-connections connoisseur Zach Lyons to create this running list of offensive coaches to keep an eye out for.

Here’s a rundown of each offensive coach’s NFL experience and connection to head coach Saleh:

Potential Offensive Coordinator and offensive assistants for Head Coach Robert Saleh

Mike McDaniel

  • Experience: Former Dolphins HC (2022-2025, 35-33 record), 49ers OC in 2021, multiple Super Bowl appearances as an assistant
  • Saleh Connection: On top of being one of the Titans’ interviewees, Saleh and McDaniel coordinated together on their respective sides of the ball in San Francisco before both getting head coaching jobs

Arthur Smith

  • Experience: Former Steelers OC from 2024-2025, former Falcons HC from 2021-2023, 15+ years in the NFL, spent 2011-2020 with the Titans in a variety of roles including OC before parlaying success into his first head coach job
  • Saleh Connection: None outside of being interviewed for the Titans head coach job in 2026

Brian Daboll

  • Experience: Former Giants HC in 2025, Bills OC from 2018-2021, 20+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Outside of being interviewed for the Titans head coach job in 2026, none besides holding joint practices in 2022 as head coaches of both New York teams

Matt Nagy

  • Experience: Former Chiefs OC from 2016-2017 and then again from 2023-2025, Bears HC from 2018-2021, 15+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: None outside of being interviewed for the Titans head coach job in 2026

Mike LaFleur

  • Experience: Current Rams OC from 2023-2025, Jets OC in 2021-2022, 10+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same staff in San Francisco before Saleh become head coach of the Jets, when he made LaFleur his OC on the inaugural staff

Adam Stenavich

  • Experience: Current Packers OC from 2022-2025, OL and run game coordinator experience
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

Todd Downing

  • Experience: Current Patriots WR coach, passing game coordinator and QB coach for the Jets (2023-2024), Titans OC 2021-2022, 20+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Hired by Saleh in New York to be the Jets passing game coordinator, later taking over play-calling duties

Bobby Slowik

  • Experience: Former Dolphins senior pass game coordinator (2025), Texans OC 2023-2024, 10+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked as a defensive quality control coach under Saleh in San Francisco before later transitioning to offensive roles on the same staff

Rich Scangarello

  • Experience: Raiders QB coach in 2024, Broncos OC in 2019
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

Klay Kubiak

  • Experience: Current 49ers OC, Assistant QB coach and then passing game specialist in San Francisco from 2022-2024
  • Saleh Connection: Saleh and Kubiak were on the 2025 49ers staff together. Also, Saleh’s first job in the NFL was for Klay’s father Gary Kubiak with the Texans

Jon Embree

  • Experience: Former Dolphins Assistant HC/TE coach from 2022-2025, 15+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

Shane Day

  • Experience: Current Chargers QB coach from 2024-2025, former 49ers QB coach from 2019-2020, 10+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

Keith Carter

  • Experience: OL coach, assistant OL coach, and run game coordinator experience with Vikings, Jets, and Titans since 2018, 10+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked together as quality control coaches in Seattle, and Carter was later hired by Saleh as his offensive line coach and run game coordinator with the Jets

Brian Fleury

  • Experience: Current 49ers run game coordinator/TE coach
  • Saleh Connection: Worked as a defensive quality control coach under Saleh in San Francisco before transitioning to offensive roles on the same staff

Wes Welker

  • Experience: WR coach for Dolphins then 49ers from 2019-2024
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

TC McCartney

  • Experience: Former Patriots QB coach in 2024, Browns TE coach from 2022-2023, 10+ years in the NFL
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff

Taylor Embree

  • Experience: Jets and then Patriots RB coach from 2021-2024
  • Saleh Connection: Worked on the same 49ers staff, and Saleh later hired him as running backs coach with the Jets

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