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After a 3-14 finish in 2025, the Tennessee Titans pivoted toward a major offseason shakeup.
Brian Callahan was fired six games into his second season as head coach. Robert Saleh left his defensive coordinator position with the San Francisco 49ers in January to replace Callahan.
In his second opportunity as an NFL head coach, Saleh will be tasked with guiding the development of Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft. Ward threw 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a rookie.
Saleh’s first rookie camp with the Titans opened this week, but the new head coach said Thursday that his focus extends beyond the white lines on the football turf.
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Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks to the media before the Titans’ rookie camp at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 1, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Seed oils will no longer be available inside the Titans’ training facility in Nashville, Saleh announced. The team’s nutrition staff is working closely with coaches and players during the transition.
The Titans could target common cooking oils like canola and soybean to replace them with alternatives they believe can support player performance.
A general view of Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, before the NFL game between the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans on October 19, 2025. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
“One of the first things I think we did here was get rid of all the seed oils in the building, which I think the players appreciate. Ms. Amy [Adams Strunk, controlling owner] It has allowed us to attack the budget and get a better variety of players,” Saleh told reporters.
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“I’ve been to six different buildings and I would put this staff among the best. The product they provide daily in the cafeteria is exceptional.”
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Saleh’s announcement sparked a debate throughout the nutritional community, which remains divided on the issue.
“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that seed oils are not bad for your health. If anything, they are good for your health,” said Matti Marklund, Ph.D., MSE, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Marklund also argued that seed oils “have been demonized due to misunderstandings about how they are made and how the human body uses them, as well as their ubiquity in ultra-processed foods.”
Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll talk during stretching at the Titans’ rookie camp at the Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on May 2, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The Titans open the regular season on September 13 hosting the New York Jets, the team Saleh coached from 2021-24.
Historically, seed oils have not been directly linked to violations of the NFL’s drug policy, but players may still want to consider how certain oils are processed.
In general, hemp seed oil has been found to be free of cannabinoids and is unlikely to cause a positive THC test. But unrefined hemp oils, hemp seed protein powders, and products made with whole or ground hemp seeds may contain trace amounts of THC metabolites. Elevated levels of those metabolites in an athlete’s system could potentially support a positive marijuana test result.
Hemp seed oil is commonly used in salad dressings or drizzled over finished dishes such as soups, roasted vegetables, and pastas. It can also be added to cold sauces and dressings or mixed with mayonnaise and hummus.
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Poppy seed oil, sometimes used in muffins and bagels, may also contain traces of morphine and codeine. Consuming large amounts of the oil could result in a positive drug test, according to the US National Library of Medicine.
“Ingestion of poppy seeds containing morphine and codeine can produce positive opioid tests and confound interpretation of results in forensic and clinical settings. Multiple publications have evaluated urinary opioid concentrations following ingestion of poppy seeds,” according to the NLM.
In 2016, the independent administrator of the NFL’s drug testing program warned players not to eat meat produced in China and Mexico over concerns about clenbuterol contamination. Clenbuterol is a stimulant associated with muscle growth and weight loss.
The substance is prohibited under the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. “Consuming large amounts of meat while visiting those particular countries may result in a positive test,” the administrator’s memo said at the time.
