Two former New York head coaches are set to unite in the AFC South in 2026 and potentially beyond while trying to get the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs.
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The Titans already hired former Jets coach Robert Saleh to be the new head coach. Now, sources have told ESPN that former Giants head coach Brian Daboll has also landed a job with the team. He will take over as offensive coordinator in 2026.
Of course, this is contingent upon another situation. Daboll will only take the OC job if he does not get hired to be the next head coach of the Raiders. He has interviewed twice with the Las Vegas-based franchise.
Daboll, 50, started his NFL career in 2000 as a defensive assistant for the Patriots. However, he switched to the offensive side of the ball in 2002 when he began coaching wide receivers. He has remained an offensive coach in the decades since while spending time with multiple teams.
Daboll enjoyed multiple stints with the Patriots (2000-2006, 2013-2016). He also served as offensive coordinator for the Browns (2009-2010), Dolphins (2011), Chiefs (2012), and Bills (2018-2021) before becoming head coach of the Giants.
The veteran coach spent nearly four seasons with New York (2022-2025) while coaching the team to a 20-40-1 record with one playoff appearance. The Giants reached the divisional round in 2022 after defeating the Vikings in the wild-card round.
Daboll won Coach of the Year in 2022, but the Giants then fired him midway through the 2025 season. This happened during a season featuring a rotating cast of quarterbacks — Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and Jaxson Dart — as well as numerous close losses.
If Daboll takes the Titans job, he will go back to a role in which he is comfortable while trying to help with second-year quarterback Cam Ward's progression. He previously guided Josh Allen through his rookie season (2018) and for three more years as the former Wyoming quarterback turned into a touchdown machine.
Allen only threw for just over 2,000 yards as a rookie, but he delivered two 4,000-yard seasons while working in Daboll's offense. He threw a career-high 37 touchdowns in 2020 and followed it up with 36 more in 2021. He relied more on his arm while accounting for only 31 rushing touchdowns in four seasons.
For comparison, Allen has thrown for fewer than 30 touchdowns in three seasons working under offensive coordinator — now head coach — Joe Brady. But he has rushed for at least 12 touchdowns each season.
