Could Gus Bradley be the Titans’ next defensive coordinator?

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh has not named a defensive coordinator yet. It’s essentially a caretaking position. Saleh plans to call defensive plays in Tennessee. He’s looking for his version of Nick Holz on defense.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer offered some potential insight into the process over the weekend. Saleh’s old team, the San Francisco 49ers, hired Raheem Morris to succeed him as DC. By doing so, they passed on promoting Gus Bradley, who was a natural candidate to succeed Saleh as Kyle Shanahan’s assistant head coach.

Breer now claims Bradley is a candidate to become the Titans’ defensive coordinator. He’s also being linked to the same vacancy with the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals may possess the upper hand given that their role is a play-calling one under new offensive-minded head coach Mike LaFleur.

Bradley and Saleh have a far closer relationship than what Arizona/LaFleur can offer, despite the play-calling advantage. Saleh was an entry-level assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks when Bradley was coordinating the early Legion of Boom defense.

Bradley then became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He eventually hired Saleh as his linebackers coach. They spent three seasons together in Duval, up until Bradley’s firing. They then reunited in San Francisco this past season.

Saleh probably prefers to hire Bradley, given his experience. Breer claims the alternative candidate is Mike Rutenberg. Rutenberg already interviewed for the Titans’ DC gig. He’s also worked with Saleh on three different occasions. This past campaign, he worked under Jeff Ulbrich in Atlanta, Saleh’s old DC with the New York Jets.

Bradley’s situation with the 49ers possibly caused a delay in Saleh’s process. Now that Shanahan has hired Morris as DC, Saleh is possibly waiting for Bradley to decide between Tennessee and Arizona. The Titans appear down to two defensive coordinator candidates.