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Turon Davenport
Nashville, Tennessee — tennessee titans General manager Mike Borgonzi sat across the table from reporters for his first season finale news conference earlier this month and was ready to address the search for the team’s next coach. Within a few minutes the power went out and he was left sitting in the dark.
Borgonzi’s silhouette against a light blue LED backdrop foreshadows how positioned he is to lead Tennessee into the franchise’s next chapter. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams-Strunk released a letter to fans outlining the restructuring of the front office, putting Borgonzi in charge of both the coaching search and construction of the 53-man roster.
The second-year general manager will lead a committee composed of president of football operations Chad Brinker, assistant GM Dave Ziegler, vice president/football consultant Reggie McKenzie and director of player personnel John Salge.
Borgonzi promised to cast a wide net when searching for candidates for the job. The list is now around 20, ranging from newcomers to head coaches who were recently let go.
For some, the job is attractive because of the projected salary cap space (over $100 million), the No. 4 overall pick in the upcoming draft and cam ward –A young franchise quarterback in the making.
“We have a lot of good, young building blocks on this roster,” Borgonzi said. “We have one of the best defensive players in the league in Jeff Simmons. We have a young quarterback who has faced a lot of adversity this year, and he continues to get better.”
The Titans are looking for a head coach for the second time in the last three years. The next coach will be tasked with maximizing Ward’s potential by helping him develop.
Ward explained what he wants to see in the next appointment.
“Somebody who can really do everything from top to bottom, and that’s on both sides of the ball,” Ward said in October. “Offense, defense, they know the system inside and out. And I think the biggest thing is how the coach will treat the players. How will he work in the locker room? You have all different types of personalities in our locker room. And whoever we get, I know they’ll be the right hire.”
Borgonzi, who came from kansas city chiefs Last January, I saw what it was like to be a union leader. Longtime coach Andy Reid has been there for the Chiefs, resulting in three Super Bowl wins in the last six seasons. While Borgonzi has pledged not to let his “Kansas City bias” dictate who he selects as coach of the Titans, he is applying some of the things he learned from the 16 years he spent there.
“There’s a clear vision, there are standards for what you do,” Borgonzi said. “And then, for that person to not be afraid of conflict in a negative way, but also to be able to hold people accountable, is the biggest thing in the whole building.
As Mike Borgonzi answered his first question, the lights went out. pic.twitter.com/5UddawhUQk
– Turon Davenport (@TDavenport_NFL) 6 January 2026
“And that person ultimately has to connect everyone in the building. So you have to have that balance of being demanding, connecting people in the building and just bringing people together. So those are the big things we’re really looking for. Obviously, they have to have a strategic vision in terms of philosophy and X’s and O’s as well.”
san francisco 49ers Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh fits the type of leader Borgonzi mentioned. Saleh’s first tenure as head coach New York Jets The performance did not go well, resulting in a 20–36 record before returning to San Francisco in the role of defensive coordinator. But Saleh learned from experience. Even though his focus is on defense, Saleh has made an effort to better connect with the 49ers team as a whole.
Saleh’s defense has been a key factor in the 49ers’ run to the divisional playoff round despite key injuries to the Pro Bowl linebacker fred warner move faster nick bossa. So, it is clear that he is right from the schematic point of view. Imagine designing ways to harass opposing offenses with Saleh Simmons and a young, up-and-coming linebacker. cedric gray.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is also considered a strong candidate for the position because of his relationship with Borgonzi and his contributions to the future Hall of Fame quarterback. patrick mahomes‘ Development. Nagy learned directly from Reed in three of his 18 seasons working in the NFL. His tenure as Chicago Bears The coach started 2018 with an NFC North division title and Coach of the Year honors, but after consecutive 8–8 seasons and a 6–11 record in 2021, he was fired.
Schematically, it is suitable for Nagy Ward. Nagy incorporated many of the concepts of the West Coast offense he learned from Reed. But he has added his own twist to include the run-pass option (RPO) which allows the quarterback to make decisions based on the defense’s reaction. Nagy has utilized both zone and gap blocking schemes to set up deep play-action passes.
Nagy emphasized Hall of Fame coach Don Coryell’s emphasis on vertical passing, motion and creating mismatches that was once held by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts – who threw for over 4,000 yards in three straight seasons (1979–1981).
These are all concepts that Ward had great success with while in college.
“I have a very good relationship with [Nagy],” Borgonzi said. “I’ve worked with him for years. I thought he did some good things in Chicago, and he did a lot of good things when he returned to Kansas City.”
As the hiring cycle deepens, the list of coaching candidates continues to grow – however, they had to be struck off the list after John Harbaugh agreed to take the position. New York Giants‘Inauguration. Tennessee has already met Rooney Rule requirements by conducting in-person interviews with two minority candidates atlanta falcons Coach Raheem Morris and former miami dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel.
The timeline for the appointment is uncertain, but given the possibility that candidates such as Saleh, denver broncos Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and Los Angeles Rams With defensive coordinator Chris Shula still alive in the playoffs, things could drag on.
Although time is ticking, Borgonzi and the Titans are in no rush to make a decision.
“There is no timetable,” Borgonzi said. “I think we have to make the best decision for this team. So it’s going to take us that long to find the best person.”
