While the New York Jets’ full 2026 regular season schedule will not be officially unveiled until 8 p.m. EST tonight, a peek into their slate has been revealed.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Jets will open their 2026 season with a road trip to Nashville, where they will face former head coach Robert Saleh and the Tennessee Titans.
Saleh won’t be the only former Jet looking to make a statement against his old team. The second-time head coach has brought a number of former Jets players and coaches with him down south. Most of them are defense, including edge rusher Jermaine Johnson, defensive end John Franklin-Myers, safety Tony Adams, and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas.
On the coaching staff, Saleh brought over defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Tony Oden and defensive line coach/defensive run game coordinator Aaron Whitecotton.
In addition, former Jets defensive tackle Tanzel Smart, who played under Saleh in New York for three seasons, will serve as the Titans’ assistant defensive line coach.
For the Jets, former Titans players include defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat (acquired in a trade for Johnson) and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
The Jets last traveled to Nashville in Week 2 of the 2024 season, when Aaron Rodgers won his first fully-played game with the team. It was Saleh’s last road victory in New York, as he was fired three weeks later.
Like the Jets, the Titans are coming off a 3-14 season, but there is hope that the team can push for a playoff spot in 2026. The additions of Saleh, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, and numerous veteran players have the Titans looking ready to push for a wild card spot. The main X-factor is the second-year development of 2025 first-overall pick Cam Ward at quarterback.
New York’s revamped defense, led by 2026 second-overall pick David Bailey, hopes to ruin Ward’s hopes of starting his second season off on the right foot.
