Despite the Titans having a 3-14 record in Ward’s rookie season, the 23-year-old signal-caller had glimpses of being a franchise QB for Tennessee. In fact, toward the end of the 2025 season, Ward had a four-game streak of throwing two touchdowns as the Titans went 2-2 in Weeks 14-17. He finished the season with 3,169 passing yards for 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
However, Ward ended the 2025 campaign with a right shoulder injury that has seen him doing rehab to begin the offseason. Saleh did not want to add a timetable for Ward’s recovery but added that the QB’s “progressing really well.”
Now heading into his second season, Ward will have to learn a new playbook with new Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. The former Giants head coach has been known to develop quarterbacks at his stops in the NFL. As the OC in Buffalo, Daboll developed Josh Allen to a star with the Bills before taking the Giants head coaching job. In 2022, Daboll helped Daniel Jones and the Giants to Big Blue’s first postseason berth since 2016. During his final year in New York, Daboll inserted Jaxson Dart into the starting lineup a few weeks into the season, which led to Dart becoming a potential long-term answer at QB for the Giants.
Nonetheless, Saleh believes Daboll’s experience working with quarterbacks could benefit the Titans and Ward.
“That’s going to be awesome,” Saleh said about the OC-QB duo. “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.”
Daboll and Ward will start their journey together when Tennessee begins organized team activities on May 18.
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