NASHVILLE – Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair knows Robert Saleh well – he played two seasons under Saleh with the San Francisco 49ers, and saw his game develop under his watch.
Al-Shaair is also familiar with the Titans – he spent the 2023 season in Tennessee, when he led the Titans in tackles. He now competes against the Titans twice a year as a member of the Houston Texans.
When Al-Shaair saw news of the Titans hiring Saleh, he had mixed emotions.
"Happy for him, but I was like, golly," Al-Shaair said with a smile. "Man, the division was already tough, and it just got a lot tougher. Coach Saleh is an amazing coach, an amazing person. And I think he landed in a great spot in Tennessee, because they have a great foundation, and the core guys that they have I think will love playing for him."
Al-Shaair, in San Francisco last week for the Pro Bowl and NFL Honors leading up to Super Bowl LX, said he immediately reached out to Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, his former teammate, to share his thoughts.
He talked more in depth to Simmons during the course of Pro Bowl week.
"I'm like, oh gosh, the player that Jeff already is without having a coach like Saleh, now being in that type of scheme," Al-Shaair, "it's going to help elevate his game even more, which is already tough to do – he is coming off a career high in sacks."
Al-Shaair, who signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2019, played two seasons in San Francisco when Saleh served as defensive coordinator.
Prior to joining the Titans, Saleh served as defensive coordinator with the 49ers in 2025. Before serving as head coach of the Jets from 2021-24, Saleh also served as DC with the 49ers from 2017-2020.
During his time in the NFL, Saleh has been a part of nine top 10 defenses, and in his nine seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach, his team has finished in the top five in total defense on five occasions.
Al-Shaair said Saleh connects with players, and he's smart.
"I have so much respect for him," he said. "He looked out for me so much for in my time with San Francisco in the two years that he was there. I just have a ton of respect for him and the way he approaches the game, the way he is."
Al-Shaair explained what makes Saleh a good coach, and why he thinks Titans players will love him.
"He is methodical, poetic in the way he moves and talks," he said. "He always has a story to tell you about something, and it always ties into exact situations and what you or the team is going through. Positive energy, high energy guy, a smile on his face all the time, but is super intense and you can respect that because you know he has the love for the game.
"He cares, you know he cares, and you know he knows what he is doing. I think if you mix passion and the brain and the knowledge he has for the game, you put those things together, a leader of men, and the way he knows how to relay the message, I think that is going to be something that is extremely good for the entire Titans organization."
