Nobody was surprised when it was announced that the New York Jets would kick off their 2026 regular season schedule against the Tennessee Titans. When it comes to Week 1 contests, it appears the NFL is always a stickler for scheduling “revenge” games between former coaches and players.

With Robert Saleh now coaching the Titans, it was a no-brainer matchup for the league. It helps that Tennessee brought in many former Jets players from the Saleh era. Jermaine Johnson, Solomon Thomas, John Franklin-Myers, and Tony Adams are among the players who have followed the former Jets coachto Nashville.

But just because the Week 1 matchup will be best known for Saleh’s revenge story, it doesn’t mean that the Jets won’t be looking for revenge themselves.

In fact, there are plenty of Jets players licking their chops to take on their former team as well.

Former Titans get chance with Jets

One of the first people to comment on the Week 1 announcement contest between Tennessee and New York wasn’t a Titan. It was Jets slot cornerback Jarvis Brownlee.

Shipped to New York early in the 2025 season for a late-round pick swap, Brownlee took to Instagram to explain how excited he was to face his former team.

“Week 1 on ya calendar. Blood bath,” Brownlee wrote. “Y’all gonna feel every inch in my body.”

Brownlee had an encouraging first season with the Jets. While he has to continue to prove himself, his edge on the field is something New York is excited about going into 2026, especially on a unit with so little edge last season.

Brownlee isn’t the only former Titan who is looking forward to the matchup.

With Saleh as the head coach in Tennessee, the Titans are in the process of transitioning to a 4-3 defensive alignment. Because of that, former second-round pick T’Vondre Sweat, considered one of the best nose tackles in the game, was traded to New York for edge rusher Jermaine Johnson.

On CBS Sports’ “Offseason Playbook” podcast, Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons voiced his displeasure with the team trading away Sweat.

“It was a surprise to me,” Simmons said. “Just trying to get a feel for why. I feel like Sweat still has some potential that sometimes he doesn’t understand. For me, that’s the reason why I’m like Sweat, you’re coming down to Dallas with me this offseason. I wanted to pull that out of him to be able to be like, ‘I have so much potential. I can be the best nose tackle in football.’ And he has the potential to do that. I hate it, but it’s a business.”

It won’t just be Saleh and his former Jets players who are going after revenge in Week 1. The Titans’ defensive cast-offs have found homes in New York and are eager to strut their stuff as well.