Music City Audible · Justin Graver, Justin Melo

Realistic Expectations for 2026 Titans

January 30, 2026·56 min·5 clips

Can the Titans go from 3-14 to 14-3 like the Patriots did under Mike Vrabel?

This episode of Music City Audible focuses on setting realistic expectations for the Tennessee Titans' 2026 season following the hiring of head coach Robert Saleh. Hosts Justin Graver and Justin Melo analyze the new coaching staff and compare the team's potential turnaround to recent NFL success stories. The hosts detail three key offensive staff hires with ties to new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll: quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo, and wide receivers coach Greg Lewis. They reference Tierney's history working with Daboll at Alabama, Buffalo, and New York, specifically noting his role during Josh Allen's breakout 2020 season. Bricillo is highlighted for improving offensive lines with the Raiders and Giants, while Greg Lewis is noted for his work with Tyreek Hill in Kansas City and Zay Flowers in Baltimore. The discussion shifts to the defensive side, where a reported dedicated nickel coach hire signals a potential schematic influence from Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald. The hosts draw parallels between the Titans' situation and the 2025 turnarounds of the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Jacksonville Jaguars, all of whom featured sophomore quarterbacks and new coaching staffs. They specifically mention Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, and Trevor Lawrence as quarterbacks who took leaps in their second seasons. An interesting insight is that Brian Daboll is effectively reassembling his New York Giants offensive staff, while Robert Saleh appears to be building a defense inspired by his New York Jets tenure. The episode suggests the Titans' deliberate hiring of a nickel coach reflects a league-wide trend toward specialized defensive roles to counter modern offenses. A memorable claim is that Carmen Bricillo's departure correlated with a decline in the Raiders' offensive line performance. The hosts also speculate that general manager Mike Borgonzi likely influenced the Greg Lewis hire due to their shared history with the Kansas City Chiefs. They emphasize that having a quarterback coach like Tierney who is perfectly in sync with Daboll could accelerate the team's short-term development. The tone is conversational and analytical, blending insider football knowledge with fan-oriented speculation. The style is informal, featuring banter between the hosts and direct engagement with live chat questions from listeners. This episode would appeal to Tennessee Titans fans seeking a detailed, forward-looking breakdown of the new coaching staff's potential impact. Listeners interested in NFL team-building strategies and schematic trends would also find value. Those looking for finalized roster analysis or concrete win-loss predictions might prefer to wait until after free agency and the draft.

As heard by us

A clear-eyed staff-and-roster check that treats Titans expectations like a football problem.

Music City Audible opens with a blunt Titans quote about speed, confidence, swag, and bringing a championship home, then uses the recent offensive coaching hires to ask a fair question: what identity is Tennessee actually trying to build?

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Why you'd press play

For when you want the Titans' new offensive staff framed around real relationships, speed, and cohesion instead of offseason filler.

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