‘Ultimately, Cam was a big factor’ — Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll doesn’t hold back on why he came to Tennessee

The Titans’ coordinators spoke for the first time this week, and Brian Daboll didn’t shy away from talking highly of Cam Ward.

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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The new offensive and defensive coordinators of the Tennessee Titans spoke to local media for the first time on Wednesday. It was our first opportunity to speak with former Giants’ Head Coach Brian Daboll, who is now tasked with coaching QB Cam Ward and coordinating a new version of the Titans offense.

So naturally, we had a lot of questions for him about his new QB. And Daboll didn’t shy away from the fact that he’s pretty excited to work with the former first overall pick.

Brian Daboll names Cam Ward as the ultimate reason he chose the Titans

The first thing that was asked of Daboll at the podium was simple: why here? Why did a coach who was in great demand around the league as both a head coach candidate but more so an offensive coordinator candidate decide to come to a small market, bad football team in Tennessee?

“I’ll just say it felt like the right fit with the right people.” Daboll explained. “I obviously have a relationship with with Robert (Saleh) dating back to the New York days, but his vision of what he wants to do and how he wants to do it, Mike (Borgonzi) and the vision that he has, and then ultimately Cam (Ward) was a big factor. I have a lot of confidence in this young man.”

Ultimately, it was Cam. When the Tennessee job was open, Ward was at the top of everybody’s list of reasons why it was an attractive landing spot for prospective coaches. And based on what we know about Daboll during the draft process last offseason when Ward was the top QB prospect, it’s not hard to believe him when he lists the young passer as his top reason.

“I’m sure I’ll get asked about the pre-draft process last year, which was about this time” Daboll preempted. “I had a lot of touch points with him, meetings, 30 visits, going down to Miami, dinner with him and his family. So there was a good relationship built up leading up to the draft. So I look forward to working with him.”

Daboll provided an update on what Ward is up to currently, working to get his sprained AC joint in his shoulder back to health:

“I know he’s in the building rehabbing. April can’t come soon enough to get going on the offensive installation part of it, but I have a lot of confidence in how he played both at Miami, Washington State, and then he had a whole year under his belt playing in the National Football League and getting accustomed to the speed of the game and the timing, and that’s not an easy thing for quarterbacks. So I just felt like the right fit.”

When asked why he’s so enamored with coaching a Cam Ward offense, Daboll emphasized his greatest strengths we got a taste of in 2025. “He’s a young athletic quarterback who has accuracy, who can make plays on the move. He can do a great job of you know the play doesn’t look great and then all of a sudden it looks great because of his ability. He’s smart.”

Ward’s smarts, and specifically his ability to see the field and read out a defense, was a selling point that got the last regime to buy in on him too. It’s what Mike Borgonzi is quick to tell you about his QB when you ask him. They’ve all felt he was especially gifted in this way, a natural. And it seems Daboll is no exeception.

“I think he’s got some moxie to him” Daboll continued. “He’s tough. He holds himself to a high standard which is important for that position.”

Fans are placing a lot of their hope in Ward to drive this team into a new era beginning in 2026. He’s an exciting player poised to make a Year 2 leap. And by all accounts, his new OC is just as excited about what he can do as fans are.

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