Sportsnaut
When the Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel, many expected him to either immediately land another head coaching job or take over as an offensive coordinator for one of the top NFL teams. Instead, there might be another possibility in play.
Over the weekend, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported that McDaniel looms as a potential option to become the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator if Robert Saleh was hired as head coach. On Tuesday, it was announced that Saleh would be leaving the San Francisco 49ers to take over in Tennessee.
What is particularly notable is the suddenness of Saleh being named as the new Titans head coach. While he was viewed as one of the finalists and was brought in for a second interview, reporting on Monday suggested that Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy was the front-runner in Tennessee.
There was at least enough uncertainty that Saleh was scheduled for his second interview with the Arizona Cardinals for their head coaching vacancy on Tuesday. Before that happened, however, Tennessee agreed to terms on a multi-year deal to make him the replacement for Brian Callahan.
Saleh is well-regarded both for his defensive mind and his leadership. The 46-year-old coach is instantly viewed as someone who could help turn the culture around in Tennessee, having the same kind of impact that Mike Vrabel had during his tenure.
However, the biggest uncertainty with Saleh is who will be his offensive coordinator and play-caller. That is critical for a franchise that is looking for the right person to help quarterback Cam Ward take a huge step forward next season. It is why the likes of Nagy and Mike McCarthy were considered.
Perhaps Tennessee moved quickly to hire Saleh with an understanding that his close relationship with McDaniel would enable him to land him as offensive coordinator. At the very least, the franchise certainly has a good idea of what the Titans coaching staff will look like, with Saleh connections to the Shanahan tree being very beneficial for building a quality staff on the offensive side of the ball.
If McDaniel doesn’t find a head-coaching job that suits him, he will be the most in-demand offensive coordinator this offseason. Any team that hires him in that role would likely need to make him the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history, with a salary likely north of $6 million per year.
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