Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is kicking off with an absolute banger, and the biggest storyline isn’t just a new coach, it’s a coach facing the team that *fired* him: Robert Saleh making his Tennessee Titans debut against the New York Jets. Get ready, because this Sunday promises to be one of the most competitive games on the schedule.
Saleh’s Revenge Game? You Better Believe It
Talk about an opener! Robert Saleh, the guy who coached the Jets for three full seasons and then got canned five games into his fourth, is now leading the Tennessee Titans. This isn’t just a coaching debut; this is personal. The Jets showed him the door back in 2024 when they were sitting at a rough 2-3. Sure, he inherited a total mess when he got there in 2021, and yeah, Aaron Rodgers got hurt minutes into the 2023 season, which was a huge blow to any coach. He still managed two 7-10 seasons after a 4-13 start, but 2-3 in 2024 was apparently the end of the line. Now, after a season back as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, he’s got a fresh start with the Titans, and you know he’s itching to prove a point against his old squad. This isn’t just football, it’s a vendetta.
New Faces, New Game: These Teams Are NOT What You Remember
Both the Titans and Jets are coming off disappointing 2025 campaigns, and both believe they’re set for a serious jump this season. That means massive roster overhauls! The Titans, especially, went hard. They’re rolling out nine new starters and absolutely dropped cash in free agency. Remember former Jets pass rusher Jermaine Johnson II? He’s a Titan now. So are wideout Wan’Dale Robinson and center Austin Schlottmann, among others. Their starting defense alone has five players who weren’t even on the team last year! Plus, they snagged first-round pick Keldric Faulk and second-rounder Anthony Hill Jr. They also made a huge effort to protect quarterback Cam Ward, who literally got sacked a league-high 55 times in his rookie season. They used their first-round pick on Carnell Tate, a wide receiver hoping to be the next Ohio State superstar, and grabbed two offensive linemen, including their new starting right guard Fernando Carmona. On the Jets side? They’re not far behind, with eight new starters, adding 11 new players, especially on defense, and six new…
This isn’t just a game, it’s a statement for both franchises. The Titans are 1.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 38.5, but the real score here is bragging rights. Can Saleh start his second head coaching gig with a win over his past, or will the Jets prove they made the right call? Sunday, September 13th, 1 PM ET at Nissan Stadium, is going to be must-watch football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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