Music City Audible · Justin Graver, Justin Melo

Daboll vs Kingsbury: Comparing Titans Top OC Candidates

January 26, 2026·56 min·5 clips

The Titans are interviewing three offensive coordinator candidates in a single day, with a hire possible immediately after.

This episode focuses on the Tennessee Titans' search for an offensive coordinator, analyzing the top candidates. Hosts Justin Graver and Justin Melo, both established Titans analysts, break down the latest developments in the team's hiring process. The Titans are interviewing three main candidates: Brian Daboll, Kliff Kingsbury, and Adam Stenavich, with Thad Lewis considered a minority interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule. Brian Daboll is the reported top choice, but his availability depends on the Buffalo Bills' head coaching search. Kliff Kingsbury, recently fired by Washington, and Adam Stenavich, who lacks NFL play-calling experience, are the other primary options. The hosts note Arthur Smith and Bobby Slowik, previously linked to the job, are no longer available. The Titans have also scheduled four interviews for their defensive coordinator vacancy. Hosts reference clips from "Hard Knocks" showing Daboll's and Kingsbury's coaching styles with quarterbacks at the combine and in practice. A key insight is that Kingsbury uses simplified, fast-paced play-calling like "pop philly switch," which could help players execute quicker. Daboll, while more verbose than Kingsbury, still simplifies complex play calls for quarterbacks, as shown when coaching JJ McCarthy. The hosts debate Kingsbury's superior track record developing young quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Jaden Daniels against concerns about his run game and potential "second-year cliff." They contrast this with Daboll's perceived higher floor but possibly lower ceiling, noting his history of conservative play with leads. Retaining tight ends coach Luke Steckel could mitigate Kingsbury's run-game weaknesses. A philosophical clash over run-pass balance reportedly led to Kingsbury's dismissal in Washington, raising questions about his fit with a defensive-minded head coach like Robert Saleh. The tone is conversational and analytical, featuring a deep dive into coaching film and candid speculation about team strategy. This episode is ideal for Titans fans closely following the coordinator search or NFL enthusiasts interested in coaching philosophies and hiring processes. Listeners seeking finalized news or those uninterested in speculative team-building discussions might choose to skip it.

As heard by us

A grounded Titans OC debate that weighs fit, risk, and the wider coaching search.

Music City Audible treats the Titans coordinator search as a real football question, not a name parade: who can actually help the next offense take shape, and who only looks good from a distance.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want the Titans OC race broken down without the noise.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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