The Tennessee Titans have announced their full coaching staff for the 2026 NFL season.
The Titans hired Robert Saleh to be their next head coach on Jan. 22. Tennessee has made additional hirings in the weeks since Saleh’s deal.
The Titans have retained three coaches on their defensive staff. Tennessee welcomed five new defensive coaches this offseason.
Let’s take a look at the Titans’ defensive coaching staff in full.
Ben Bloom - Senior defensive assistant
Ben Bloom returns to the Titans for his third season, now as senior defensive assistant. Bloom served as outside linebackers coach for the Titans from 2024-25.
Dave Borgonzi - Linebackers coach
Dave Borgonzi replaces Frank Bush as linebackers coach. Borgonzi is the younger brother of Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi. He most recently served as linebackers coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
Dalton Hilliard - Defensive backs/nickels
Dalton Hilliard was the pass game coordinator as well as defensive backs coach for Colorado State in 2025. The Titans are the first NFL team that Hilliard has coached for in his career.
Marquand Manuel - Defensive backs/safeties
Manuel joins the Titans after serving as secondary coach/pass game coordinator with the New York Giants in 2025. He’s been a defensive coach in the league since 2013. Manuel began his NFL coaching career as a special teams assistant on the Seattle Seahawks in 2012.
Tony Oden - Pass game coordinator/cornerbacks
The 2026 NFL season will be Tony Oden’s second as the Titans’ defensive passing game coordinator as well as cornerbacks coach. Oden was the New York Jets’ senior defensive assistant as well as cornerbacks coach from 2022-24. New York’s secondary produced a two-time first-team All-Pro honoree in Sauce Gardner in 2022 as well as 2023.
Ahmed Saleh - Defensive assistant
Ahmed Saleh, the cousin of coach Robert Saleh, serves as the new defensive assistant for the Titans. His last role was as linebackers coach as well as special teams coordinator for Wayne State University.
Travis Smith - Senior defensive assistant/pass rush specialist
Travis Smith now serves as defensive assistant/pass rush specialist after serving as defensive run game coordinator in 2026. Smith enters his second season with Tennessee.
Aaron Whitecotton - Defensive line
Whitecotton serves as the Titans’ defensive line coach. He’s coached in the NFL since 2013. Whitecotton most recently served as defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Tennessee Titans finalize coaching staff: A look at the defense