Robert Saleh is entering his first season as the Tennessee Titans head coach and is bullish on the long-term potential of quarterback Cam Ward.
The 47-year-old coach acknowledged his confidence in Ward isn’t just due to the No. 1 pick from the 2025 NFL Draft’s on-field abilities. It also stems from witnessing how the 23-year-old signal-caller interacts with people and carries himself day to day at the team’s facility.
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“I try to observe people from afar, and Cam is there every day,” Saleh said of Ward at the 2026 NFL meetings, per the Titans’ official website. “Obviously we can’t talk ball with him (because of NFL rules), but I can watch him interact with the people in the building.”
“I think it is very impressive for a young man to walk through the building and know everybody by name from the janitors to the chefs to the trainers, and he addresses them by name,” Saleh added. “He is a really, really good man. I just think his head is on the right way, he has the right work ethic. I just don’t see him failing.”
Ward is coming off a rookie season during which he led the Titans to a 3-14 record while completing 59.8% of his passes for 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The Miami product started the year slowly but was hot down the stretch, posting multiple passing touchdowns in four consecutive games from Weeks 14-17 and logging a 2-2 record.
Saleh is excited to see Ward try to build upon his late-season success. He is also looking forward to seeing how Ward gets along with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who spent parts of the previous four seasons as the New York Giants’ coach.
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“That’s going to be awesome,” Saleh said of observing Daboll and Ward’s relationship. “I’m sure they’ll bicker at each other every once in a while, and they’ll challenge each other often. But that is the exact temperament that you want out of your quarterback.”
Of course, Ward is also attempting to come back from a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 18. He sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder but has been rehabilitating the injury without surgery.
Saleh credited the young quarterback for the effort he has put in to his recovery thus far.
“He is in there, he is working with the trainers, working in the weight room,” Saleh said. “We are up to date. I am not going to put a timetable on anything (on his injury), but he is progressing really well.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Titans coach Robert Saleh gives Cam Ward vote of confidence
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