NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (0-0) host the New York Jets (0-0) this week to open the 2026 regular season. Kickoff at Nissan Stadium (capacity 69,143) is scheduled for noon CDT on Sunday, Sept. 13.
The Titans and Jets, two of the eight original American Football League franchises, renew their rivalry for the 48th time. While the Titans lead the series 25-21-1, including a postseason win in 1991, the Jets have claimed four of the past five battles. This Sunday marks the fourth all-time season opener between the two clubs and the first since a Jets victory in Week 1 of 2006.
As a franchise, The Titans own a 32-34 all-time record in season openers. This is the final such occasion in the current Nissan Stadium, where the team has gone 5-7 in Week 1 games since the venue opened in 1999. The new Nissan Stadium is being constructed next door and is set to open in 2027.
THE BROADCAST
This week's contest will be regionally televised on CBS, including Nashville affiliate WTVF NewsChannel 5, as well as on Paramount+ in the Nashville market. The broadcast team includes play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes, analyst Adam Archuleta and reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala.
Fans in Nashville can stream live Titans games on mobile devices with NFL+, which offers access to local games and all primetime games on phones and tablets. Out of market, fans can watch every Sunday afternoon game with Sunday Ticket. More information on ways to watch NFL games can be found at nfl.com/ways-to-watch.
The Titans Radio Network and Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone carry all Titans games across the Mid-South with play-by-play announcer Taylor Zarzour, analyst Ramon Foster, executive producer Rhett Bryan, gameday host Will Boling, and rotating sideline reporters Kevin Dyson, Brad Hopkins, Ben Jones, Marc Mariani and Delanie Walker.
SALEH ERA BEGINS
Sunday marks the first regular season game of Robert Saleh's tenure as the 22nd head coach in Titans/Oilers history, and the matchup pits his new team against his former one. He served as the head coach of the Jets from 2021 to 2024. In 2025, he was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, the same post he held prior to his time with the Jets.
Two of the three Titans coordinators are also set for their team debuts. Saleh brought in longtime confidant and former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator, while also hiring former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. John Fassel, who joined the organization in 2025, remains as special teams coordinator and has added the title of assistant head coach under Saleh.
The roster includes a number of players entering their first season in Titans blue after being acquired by second-year general manager Mike Borgonzi. The list of veterans acquired includes wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson, tight end Daniel Bellinger and center Austin Schlottmann, all formerly with the Giants; defensive linemen Jermaine Johnson (Jets), John Franklin-Myers(Broncos) and Jacob Martin (Commanders); cornerbacks Alontae Taylor (Saints) and Cor'Dale Flott(Giants); and punter Tommy Townsend (Texans).
Seven of this year's eight-member Titans draft class, including a pair of first-round selections, reside on the 53-man roster, with the lone exception (tight end Jaren Kanak) landing on injured reserve. With the fourth-overall pick, they chose former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate. Near the end of the draft's first day, Borgonzi traded back into the first round to take former Auburn defensive end Keldric Faulk at pick No. 31.
Quarterback Cam Ward is set to begin his second NFL season. As a rookie in 2025, the No. 1 overall pick started all 17 games, and his 3,169 passing yards eclipsed Marcus Mariota's previous franchise rookie record (2,818 passing yards in 2015). With 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 323-of-540 passing, Ward's 1.3 percent interception rate was the best single-season mark in franchise history by all qualifying quarterbacks, breaking Ryan Tannehill's franchise mark of 1.5 percent in 2020. Over the final nine games of the season, Ward threw only one interception with 10 touchdown passes.
THE JETS
Aaron Glenn begins his second year as the head coach of the Jets after previously spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. The former NFL defensive back oversaw one of the youngest rosters in the NFL in 2025, when the team had a league-high 10,123 snaps by first- and second-year players.
Quarterback Geno Smith is back in New York, where he entered the NFL as a second-round pick with the Jets in 2013. His timeline later involved stops with the Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Las Vegas Raiders. He has started 98 career games, most recently logging 15 starts for the Raiders in 2025.
The Jets went 3-14 during the 2025 regular season. They were 1-2 during the 2026 preseason.
As the Titans prepare for their Week 1 game at Nissan Stadium, view past matchups between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets.
Tennessee Titans running back Dexter McCluster (22) scores the two point conversion during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, in East Rutherford, N.J. Mariota scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
Tennessee Titans defensive end Karl Klug (97) sacks New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) during a week 14 NFL football game against the on December 13, 2015 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) drops back to pass during a week 14 NFL football game against the New York Jets on December 13, 2015 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball under pressure from New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (96) during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker (82) carries the ball against the New York Jets during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg (5) is sacked by Tennessee Titans defensive back Brynden Trawick (41) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Taywan Taylor (13) makes a catch against New York Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts (27) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
New York Jets wide receiver Lucky Whitehead (8) is tackled by Tennessee Titans wide receiver Eric Weems (14) and defensive back Brynden Trawick (41) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tennessee Titans defensive back Manny Abad (38) stiff arms New York Jets tight end Jordan Leggett (49) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Alex Tanney (11) looks to pass against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tennessee Titans running back Akeem Judd (38) carries the ball against the New York Jets during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) shakes hands with New York Jets players after an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Jets won 7-3. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) calls an audible at the line of scrimmage against the New York Jets during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Wide receiver Cameron Batson #13 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Harold Landry III #58 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 03, 2021 in East Rutherford, NJ. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Joe Howell/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback Roger McCreary #21 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Nate Sparks/Tennessee Titans
Running back Tony Pollard #20 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Nate Sparks/Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) and outside linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrate a sack during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
Tennessee Titans wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins (10) and Calvin Ridley (0) shake hands during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans, Aaron Rodgers after the game between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Nate Sparks/Tennessee Titans
