The Tennessee Titans have taken a significant step in revamping their defensive squad by hiring Gus Bradley as the new defensive coordinator, following the appointment of Robert Saleh as head coach. According to sources, this strategic move aims to strengthen a defense that struggled in the 2025 season, ranking in the bottom five for points allowed and yards per play.
Bradley and Saleh have a long-standing professional relationship, having worked together at various organizations throughout their coaching careers. Their collaboration dates back to their time in Seattle from 2011 to 2012, where Bradley served as the defensive coordinator. Bradley later brought Saleh onto his coaching staff in Jacksonville as the linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016. Most recently, they reunited in San Francisco in 2025, where Saleh was the defensive coordinator and Bradley held the role of assistant head coach.
While Bradley is recognized for his past as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he faced challenges accumulating a record of 14-48 from 2013 to 2016, Saleh intends to maintain play-calling duties for the defense—a change from his previous head coaching role.
The Titans’ defense is anchored by standout defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2025. Other notable returning players include linebackers Cody Barton and Cedric Gray, safeties Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, and Kevin Winston Jr., and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat. However, the team has acknowledged a pressing need to bolster its depth at cornerback and edge defender.
In 2024, under former defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, the Titans boasted the NFL’s second-best total defense, ranking among the top ten for yards allowed per play. However, injuries and trades led to a decline in performance in 2025, depleting the secondary, even as the Titans displayed a productive pass rush despite limited elite talent on the edges.
With the hiring of Bradley, the Titans are hopeful that his experience and familiarity with Saleh will help to restore the defensive unit to its former glory, enhancing their competitiveness in the upcoming season.