NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — First-year coach Robert Saleh has seemed almost delusional at times with his confidence in the woeful Tennessee Titans and his optimistic belief that a turnaround is just around the corner.
The Titans have only one win and that doesn't back up Saleh's optimism. They reached their bye two losses from a fifth consecutive losing season and unable to string together even back-to-back wins in the same season for an NFL-worst drought now at 66 games spanning four years.
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Tennessee Titans linebacker James Williams Sr. (52) celebrates after an interception by safety Amani Hooker (37) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37) celebrates an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike (17) celebrates a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) celebrates a two-point conversion against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Yet Saleh points to the Titans being 1-5 in one-score games as proof that they’re close after a 43-36 overtime loss to Cincinnati.
“We got the right guys,” Saleh said. “You ask what kind of a team we have? Well, you find out what type of team you have in adversity, and there’s been a bunch of guys who’ve been stepping up, keeping guys on the straight, guys who have been improving week in and week out.”
Tennessee's recent win-loss record is ugly:
— 1-7 this season
— 7-35 since the start of 2024
— 20-56 since the start of 2022
With nine games left this season, the Titans are projected to pick second in the 2027 draft for a third straight year selecting among the first four spots.
“We want this for our fan base, to be a winner, to be a contender,” second-year general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “And I have confidence in the people in the building that we’re going to get this right.”
The biggest came Oct. 29 when the Titans traded All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to Chicago for two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder. They also released defensive tackle Jordan Elliott on Oct. 20 after he pulled a gun in the parking lot of the team facility days before the Titans' lone win this season.
Trading Simmons gives both Borgonzi and Saleh time and much-needed draft picks to work on the roster.
“Ultimately, it’s a results business, you have to win, and the wins aren’t good enough right now, and that’s all of us, right?" Borgonzi said. “We take ownership in all of that. But right now, I think we’re at a point where we’re starting to build. We have some youth, there’s some veterans here, but we need more.”
The Titans were the NFL's biggest spenders when free agency opened in March, but they are leaning heavily on a youth movement in Borgonzi's rebuilding effort. The Titans have had first- or second-year players start 48 combined games at this point, trailing only Miami (76) and Cleveland (62) in the NFL.
Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, is 4-21 as a starter. But Ward is coming off his first 300-yard passing performance, and he has been sacked only 13 times this season compared with 34 through the first eight games of his career.
His plans for the bye week replaced practices with watching more game tape.
“At the end of the day, we’re trying to win games here," Ward said. "That’s what the fans want, that’s what we want.”
Carnell Tate, the fourth overall pick in April, leads the Titans with 413 yards receiving despite missing the Cincinnati loss. He was selected as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October after Tate led all rookies with 290 yards receiving and 13 receptions for first downs.
Chimere Dike, an All-Pro returner as a rookie in 2025, leads the NFL with 1,090 all-purpose yards. Dike also just had his best receiving game with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown at Cincinnati. Four of the Titans' top five in yards receiving are in their first or second NFL seasons.
“Overall, just a really young group that’s growing together and looking forward to seeing what their ceilings are,” Saleh said.
On defense, rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., a second-round pick out of Texas, ranks second in the NFL with 82 tackles. He has started every game this season and was the NFL's defensive rookie for September.
Entering Week 9, Tony Pollard ranks ninth in the NFL with 595 yards rushing and is coming off his best back-to-back games this season. He also has scored five TDs in that two-game span. But his contract is up after this season, and he turns 30 in April. That makes him a very attractive trade option before the NFL deadline Nov. 10.
Safety Amani Hooker, the Titans' longest-tenured player with the franchise, leads the NFL with five interceptions. Defensive end Jacob Martin has a career-high 6 1/2 sacks, one behind the league-lead held by Will Anderson Jr. of the Texans and Pittsburgh's T.J. Watt.
Pollard said the Titans bought into what Saleh preached from the start and remain locked in no matter what it looks like from the outside.
“The guys in the building are definitely bought in and trying to get this thing turned around,” Pollard said.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Tennessee Titans linebacker James Williams Sr. (52) celebrates after an interception by safety Amani Hooker (37) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker (37) celebrates an interception against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chimere Dike (17) celebrates a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) celebrates a two-point conversion against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
Key developments of LIV Golf from the first threat to the PGA Tour to the launch of the league to the decision Thursday that it will not go forward and began a wind-down of operations:
Jan. 27, 2020: PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan sends a memo to players about a “Premier Golf League” with Saudi Arabia funding. He said if it were to become a reality, “our members will have to decide whether they want to continue to be a member of the PGA Tour or play on a new series.”
Feb. 19, 2020: Rory McIlroy becomes the first player to publicly reject the idea of the Premier Golf League. “I would like to be on the right side of history on this one,” he said.
July 5-6, 2020: European tour officials meet with representatives of what later would become LIV Golf Investments over a plan to create a global series of events and a team golf concept.
Nov. 27, 2020: The PGA Tour and European tour announce a strategic alliance to collaborate on scheduling, commercial opportunities and media rights.
Oct. 29, 2021: Greg Norman announces he will be CEO of LIV Golf Investments, which will add 10 tournaments on the Asian Tour and $200 million in prize money over the next 10 years. The main source of funding is the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia. “This is just the beginning,” Norman said.
Feb. 2, 2022: Phil Mickelson tells Golf Digest during the Saudi International the PGA Tour’s “obnoxious greed” is what has created the possibility of other opportunities.
Feb. 17, 2022: Golf writer Alan Shipnuck reveals details of an interview with Mickelson for his upcoming biography. Mickelson says he recruited top players and they paid attorneys to write an operating agreement for a new Saudi league. Mickelson is quoted as saying of the Saudis, “They’re scary mother (expletive) to get involved with. We know they killed (Washington Post reporter Jamal) Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights. They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”
Feb. 20, 2022: Dustin Johnson says he is “fully committed” to the PGA Tour and Bryson DeChambeau indicates he will stay where the best are playing. McIlroy says the proposed new league is “dead in the water.”
March 16, 2022: LIV Golf Investments announces an eight-event invitational series to start June 9 in England and offer $255 million in total prize money.
May 31, 2022: Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are among 42 players announced for the inaugural LIV event in England, to be played over 54 holes in a shotgun start with a $20 million purse and $4 million to the winner. “Free agency has finally come to golf,” Norman said.
June 6, 2022: Phil Mickelson joins LIV Golf.
June 9, 2022: LIV Golf begins and the PGA Tour suspends 17 of its members playing the event.
June 10, 2022: Bryson DeChambeau joins LIV Golf.
June 21, 2022: Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka joins LIV Golf. He later says his signing bonus was “nine figures.”
July 6, 2022: LIV Golf applies to be included in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Aug. 3, 2022: DeChambeau and Mickelson are among 11 players who file an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.
Aug. 9, 2022: A federal judge in California rules against Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Matt Jones in their request for a temporary restraining order to play in the PGA Tour’s postseason.
Aug. 16, 2022: At a private meeting of 23 players at the BMW Championship in Delaware, with Tiger Woods flying up from Florida to lead the session, players rally their support around the PGA Tour and discuss creating big-purse events for top players.
Aug. 24, 2022: Monahan announces sweeping changes to the schedule that includes the best players committing to a 20-tournament schedule in which they compete against one another 17 times for average purses of $20 million.
Aug. 28, 2022: Scottie Scheffler finishes the year with $19,796,910.
Aug. 30, 2022: British Open champion Cameron Smith joins LIV Golf, along with five other players.
Oct. 21, 2022: The PGA Tour files a lawsuit against the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and its governor, Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Oct. 30, 2022: LIV Golf’s first season ends. Dustin Johnson leads the earnings list with $35,637,767. Four others made at least $10 million.
April 4, 2023: The European tour wins an arbitration case against LIV Golf. The Sports Resolution panel upholds fines and suspension and says the European tour can impose further sanctions when a player competes at LIV Golf without getting a release.
June 6, 2023: In an announcement that even players didn’t see coming, the PGA Tour, European tour and Public Investment Fund announce a framework agreement to form a new commercial company that would unify golf. Al-Rumayyan would have a seat on the PGA Tour board and chair the for-profit company, but the PGA Tour would hold the majority stake. Left undetermined was how the tours would get back together.
June 13, 2023: Monahan takes a leave of absence for a medical situation and turns over tour operations to two executives.
July 8, 2023: Former AT&T chairman Randall Stephenson resigns from the PGA Tour citing concerns over the framework agreement.
Aug. 1, 2023: Woods is appointed to the PGA Tour board for the first time in his career. The term has no limits.
Oct. 10, 2023: The Official World Golf Ranking rejects LIV’s application.
Dec. 7, 2023: Masters champion Jon Rahm signs with LIV Golf.
Jan. 31, 2024: The PGA Tour announces Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of North American sports owners led by Fenway Sports Group, has become a minority investor of $1.5 billion, with the potential to reach $3 billion. The tour announces a first-ever equity program for players.
May 13, 2024: Jimmy Dunne, who helped connect Monahan and Al-Rumayyan for secret meetings that led to the framework agreement, resigns from the PGA Tour saying his role has been made superfluous.
Sept. 1, 2024: Scheffler ends the year with $62,228,357 in earnings and bonus money.
Oct. 19, 2024: Rahm ends his season with $35,894,044 in bonus money and earnings from LIV, the European tour and the majors.
Dec. 17, 2024: Monahan announces a search for the first CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises.
Jan. 15, 2025: Scott O’Neil is announced as the new CEO of LIV Golf, replacing Norman.
Feb. 4, 2025: Monahan and Adam Scott meet with President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss the future of professional golf. Woods is not available due to the death of his mother, Kultida.
Feb. 20, 2025: Woods, Scott and Monahan meet with Trump and Al-Rumayyan at the White House, an indication that a deal is getting close. But the sides are stalled when Al-Rumayyan insists on a future with team golf.
June 17, 2025: The tour hires former NFL executive Brian Rolapp as CEO of PGA Tour Enterprises.
July 11, 2025: LIV reapplies to the Official World Golf Ranking.
Aug. 20, 2025: Rolapp appoints Woods chairman of the Future Competition Committee aimed at revamping the PGA Tour model of competition.
Nov. 4, 2025: LIV Golf announces it will go to 72 holes after four years of 54-hole events.
Dec. 23, 2025: Koepka announces he is leaving LIV Golf.
Jan. 12, 2026: Koepka is reinstated to the PGA Tour under a “Returning Member Program” that comes with financial stipulations. Rolapp offers the same deal to Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith with a Feb. 4 deadline. None accepts.
Jan. 28, 2026: Patrick Reed says he will not sign a new deal with LIV Golf. He plans to play the European tour as a path back to the PGA Tour.
Feb. 3, 2026: The Official World Golf Ranking says it will award points to LIV, but only to the top 10 finishers.
Feb. 21, 2026: The European tour says eight members have been granted releases to play LIV Golf without being sanctioned, provided they pay outstanding fines, withdraw appeals and play in stipulated tournaments. Rahm does not immediately agree to the deal.
April 15, 2026: PIF releases a new five-year strategy geared toward “a new phase of sustained value creation.” Amid speculation PIF funding would cease after 2026, O’Neil in a memo to LIV players and staff said the season will continue without interruption and at “full throttle.”
April 28, 2026: LIV Golf says its event scheduled for June 25-28 in Louisiana has been postponed until the fall.
April 30, 2026: PIF announces it will fund LIV Golf only for the rest of the 2026 season, saying the “substantial investment” LIV requires is no longer consistent with PIF’s investment strategy.
July 21, 2026: The Asian Tour announces a new alliance with the European tour and PGA Tour.
Aug. 17, 2026: LIV cancels its season-ending team championship in Michigan and said the team title would be decided in the final event in Indiana.
Aug. 23, 2026: Michael La Sasso wins his first LIV title in the final event of the 2026 season outside Indianapolis.
Aug. 30, 2026: Scottie Scheffler ends the PGA Tour season with $63,937,525 in earnings and bonuses.
Sept. 8, 2026: LIV Golf files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with more than $500 million of debt. It announces a restructuring agreement with BC Partners Credit with a $300 million pledge toward “LIV 2.0.”
Oct. 7, 2026: Jon Rahm’s attorney says at a bankruptcy hearing the Spanish star will no longer be part of LIV. Tyrrell Hatton, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter also say they are leaving.
Oct. 12, 2026: European tour CEO Guy Kinnings says anyone signing with LIV 2.0 will not be allowed to join the tour.
Nov. 5, 2025: LIV Golf tells a bankruptcy judge it is scrapping the Restructuring Support Agreement for LIV 2.0 and will transition to wind-down of its operations.
See AP’s full golf coverage here
FILE - Phil Mickelson lines up a putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., July 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
FILE - LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil watches the Maaden LIV Golf Virginia tournament at Trump National Golf Club, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Sterling, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - An overall view of a LIV Golf sign at the pro-am ahead of LIV Golf Team Championship at the Trump National Doral, Oct. 19, 2023 in Miami. (Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via AP, File)
FILE - LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, left, applauds Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, at the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament Sept. 18, 2022, in Sugar Hill, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
