TENNESSEE TITANS
(Sunday, Jan. 3, 1 p.m. at Nissan Stadium)
Series (including playoffs): Steelers 49-32
Last meeting: Steelers 20, Titans 16 (2023 at Pittsburgh)
Coaching: HC: Robert Saleh; OC: Brian Daboll; DC: Gus Bradley; STC: John Fassel
2025: 3-14, fourth in AFC South Division (31st total offense; 21st total defense)
The Titans finished 3-14 for the second consecutive season and didn't win a division game for the first time since 1982, when they were the Houston Oilers. The team fired second-year head coach Brian Callahan in mid-season after a 1-5 start. He was replaced by interim coach Mike McCoy, the former senior offensive assistant. McCoy has since been replaced by former Jets coach Robert Saleh. The brightest aspect of the Titans' season was the development of rookie QB Cam Ward. In the final eight games, the No. 1 overall draft pick completed 62% of his passes, threw 10 TD passes to only 1 interception, and compiled a passer rating of 103.5. His overall passer rating for the season was 80.2. He was sacked 55 times, tied for most in the NFL.
Key returnees
* DT Jeffery Simmons was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro after establishing career highs with 11 sacks, 21 QB hits, and 3 forced fumbles. It was Simmons's fourth Pro Bowl in seven seasons. Simmons's sacks total was the league-high for interior linemen.
* RS Chimere Dike was named Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro after leading the league in punt-return average (17.3) and all-purpose yardage (2,427) in his rookie season. Dike also finished second in the league in kickoff-return yardage (1,588), caught 48 passes for 423 yards and 4 TDs as a wide receiver, and rushed 11 times for 18 yards.
Key losses
* TE Chig Okonkwo signed with the Commanders in free agency after leading the Titans with 56 receptions and 560 receiving yards. Gunnar Helm (44 rec., 357 yards) presumably moves into the No. 1 TE spot.
* OLB Arden Key signed with the Colts in free agency after compiling 16.5 sacks the last three seasons with the Titans.
* DE Sebastian Joseph-Day signed with the Steelers in free agency after compiling 41 tackles, 6 QB hits, and 2 sacks in 10 starts last season.
Offseason additions
* WR WanDale Robinson signed a four-year contract in leading an influx of 13 new players to the Titans within the first 24 hours of free agency. Robinson caught 92 passes for 1,014 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, his first as a full-time starter with the Giants.
* TE Daniel Bellinger was signed to a three-year contract to complement Helm as the No. 2 tight end. Bellinger caught 19 passes for the Giants last season.
* IOL Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson were signed to replace the center and right guard combo of Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Zeitler.
* DE John Franklin-Myers was signed to a three-year blockbuster deal in free agency. A classic 4-3 end, Franklin-Myers compiled 14.5 sacks in two seasons with the Broncos. He headlines a concerted effort to upgrade the supporting cast around Titans All-Pro DT Simmons.
* DE Jermaine Johnson was acquired in a trade with the Jets for NT T'Vondre Sweat. The Jets' 2022 first-round draft pick was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and last season recorded 43 tackles and 3 sacks.
* CBs Alontre Taylor and Cor'Dale Elliott were signed to three-year contracts in free agency to replace last year's cornerback duo of Darrell Baker and Jalyn Armour-Davis. The Titans also signed reserve CB Josh Williams, along with free safety Tony Adams, who'll compete with Kevin Winston for the job left open by the release of Xavier Woods.
* P Tommy Townsend was signed to replace Johnny Hekker. Townsend, a former Pro Bowler with the Chiefs, averaged 47.6 gross and 41.6 net last season with the Texans.
Days 1 & 2 draft picks
Round 1: WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State, was selected with the No. 4 overall pick after catching 51 passes for 875 yards (17.2 ypr.) and 9 TDs last season. The Titans expect Tate to join Calvin Ridley and Robinson as the receiving trio for Ward.
Round 1: DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn, was drafted 31st after a trade of mid-round pick swaps with the Bills. Faulk, a 6-6, 276-pounder, recorded 9 sacks the last two seasons. He won't turn 21 until September.
Round 2: LB Anthony Hill, Texas, is expected to team with last season's leading tackler, rookie Cedric Gray, in the middle of the Titans' defense. Hill was second-team All-America last season.
Familiar face
As part of their massive influx in mid-March, the Titans signed QB Mitch Trubisky to replace Brandon Allen as the backup to Ward. Trubisky spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons with the Steelers, with whom he started seven games (2-5 record) and compiled a 77.6 passer rating. Trubisky spent the last two seasons with the Bills without a start.
Matching up with the Steelers
A new general manager, head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators, and what's expected to be 13 new starters will greet the Steelers at the end of the 2026 season. The Titans still have Ward, Ridley, and RB Tony Pollard on offense, and Simmons, Gray, and SS Amani Hooker on defense. The major differences will be the approach by the new coordinators. On offense, Daboll will be in charge of Ward and his potentially talented group of WRs. Daboll, of course, developed Josh Allen and Jaxson Dart during stints with the Bills and Giants. On defense, head coach Saleh and his coordinator Bradley will move toward a more consistent 4-3 alignment with Simmons the star in the middle of a line that includes three new starters, as well as three new starters in the secondary. Saleh, Daboll, and Bradley are all former head coaches in the league.
Jaylen Warren's run stopped short of the goal line by the Titans' Amani Hooker during a 2023 game (Photo: Denny Simmons, USA TODAY Sports)