Week 1 of the 2026 season comes with no shortage of storylines for the New York Jets, who open the year against former head coach Robert Saleh in his first game leading the Tennessee Titans.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday at the Titans’ OTAs, Saleh expressed his appreciation for the Jets organization but emphasized that he doesn’t buy into the “revenge” storylines.
At least that’s what he’s saying publicly.
“I’m appreciative of the Jets and everything I had there,” said Saleh. “It’s to be expected with the NFL, but I didn’t think anything of it.”
In 56 games as the Jets’ head coach from 2021-24, Saleh led the Jets to a 20-36 record before being fired after Week 5 of the 2024 season following an unimpressive 2-3 start to a year with sky-high expectations.
Ultimately, the coaching change didn’t spark the team; they finished the year 5-12, and Jeff Ulbrich led the squad to a 3-9 record as interim HC.
After returning to San Francisco as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator for the 2025 season, Saleh gets another chance as a head coach in Tennessee, having learned many lessons from his time with the Jets.
In Week 1, Saleh isn’t the only one with the Titans looking to prove his former team wrong; multiple players and fellow coaches are doing the same, including defensive lineman Jermaine Johnson, John Franklin-Myers, safety Tony Adams, and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas.
As for 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. He also added former Jets defensive tackle Tanzel Smart, whom he coached for three seasons in the Big Apple as an assistant defensive line coach.
There are also a few Jets looking to get their revenge against Tennessee, including defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, who was acquired in exchange for Johnson, and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr.
The Titans are currently listed as the early, three-point home favorites.
Regardless of what the odds are, this matchup is one of the Jets’ most important Week 1 games in years and is as close to a “must-win” as the first game of the season can be.
