Titans hope Brian Daboll can turn Cam Ward into franchise QB if he's hired as OC

Daboll helped Allen learn to read defenses before the snap, improving his ability to run an offense. That transformed the raw QB into one of the league's premier passers. 

In his rookie season, Allen — pick No. 7 of the 2018 draft — completed 52.8 percent of his passes (well below the league average) for 2,074 yards, 10 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. In his last three seasons under Daboll, the Wyoming Cowboys product completed a solid 64.1 percent of his passes for 12,040 yards, 93 TD passes and 34 interceptions (via StatMuse). In 2020, he made his first Pro Bowl and earned a second-team All-Pro nod. He has since made three more Pro Bowls and won the 2024 NFL MVP. 

Daboll parlayed his success in Buffalo into the head-coaching job with the Giants in 2022. He flopped, going 20-40-1 in four seasons with the club. But after New York fired the coach in November 2025, QB Jaxson Dart — a 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist — credited Daboll for his early development.

"I just have all the respect in the world for him. I think he's an incredible offensive mind. He's done an amazing job developing me up to this point," Dart told the media.

Can Brian Daboll do the same with Cam Ward? 

Ward's not generational like Allen, but he flashed promise during his rookie season. He started all 17 games, setting a franchise record for passing yards (3,169). The former Miami Hurricanes star also threw 15 TD passes and seven interceptions. 

"A supercut of Ward's throws stands up with those of Drake Maye, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and C.J. Stroud and a slew of other quarterbacks during their rookie seasons," wrote ESPN's Ben Solak, who named the Titans QB to his All-Rookie team. 

Daboll's ability to maximize QBs should help Ward reach his ceiling. That bodes well for the Titans, who are trying to regain respectability after going 6-28 over their last 34 games.