What did Robert Saleh learn from Jets tenure? Culture and adaptable schemes.

Robert Saleh arrives in Tennessee with a clear, concrete pivot: he will call defensive plays for the Titans, a role he didn’t handle in New York and one he says is vital to reestablishing his connection with players. Introduced as Titans head coach, Saleh acknowledged his four-year Jets tenure—an era that ended with a 20-36 record and no playoff appearances—as a learning experience that informs his second NFL head-coaching chance.

“The proper question would be what didn’t I learn?” Saleh told reporters at his introductory press conference, framing the Jets chapter as growth rather than failure. He stressed that the move to call plays is about renewal of bonds with the players who execute the game plan, not a personal power shift.

In New York, Saleh delegated play-calling to his coordinators and sat back, sometimes feeling detached. “I didn’t call plays in New York, and I just kind of gave it all to the coordinators,” he recalled, describing a Sunday stance that left him feeling like “a timeout and red flag guy” with the best seat in the house—or as a fan watching from the sidelines.

Saleh insists the decision to regain play-calling duties is about connection. “Calling plays for me, it’s not necessarily about control, but it’s about connecting with the players,” he said, explaining that the act of calling plays lets him feel the weight of each decision alongside his players. He added that this approach should help him react more authentically to the highs and lows of game day.

While he embraces a hands-on role in the defensive plan on Sundays, Saleh emphasized that his oversight of the overall operation remains intact. He’ll still be involved with the offense and special teams and will continue to oversee the entire Titans program, just with his input more directly tied to game execution.

Saleh also framed his Jets chapter as critical growth. “There’s no handbook to a first time at anything you do,” he said, underscoring that the experience has left him better prepared to lead a young Titans roster. With a renewed emphasis on connection and accountability, he aims to establish a clearer identity for Tennessee from day one.

Among those in attendance at the press conference were Titans players Cam Ward, Elic Ayomanor, Jackson Slater, and Kevin Winston Jr., a sign of Saleh’s intent to build organizational bonds from the start. ESPN’s Turron Davenport noted the presence as part of the moment of alignment between coach and team as Saleh charts a new course in Tennessee.