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After going 3-14 in 2025, the Tennessee Titans pivoted to a major shakeup this offseason.
Brian Callahan was fired six games into his second season as head coach. Robert Saleh left his role as defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in January to replace Callahan.
In his second chance as an NFL head coach, Saleh will be responsible for guiding the development of Cam Ward, the No. 1 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 his focus extends beyond the white lines on the football field.
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Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh speaks with the media before Titans rookie camp at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tennessee on May 1, 2026. (DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN NETWORK / USA TODAY via Imagn Images)
Seed oils will no longer be available at the Titans’ practice facility in Nashville, Saleh announced. The team’s nutrition team works closely with coaches and players during the transition.
The Titans could target common cooking oils such as canola and soy to replace them with alternatives they believe could improve 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)
“I think one of the first things 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] This allowed us to attack the budget and offer a better variety of players,” Saleh told reporters.
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“I’ve been in six different buildings and I would rate this staff among the best of them. The product they put out in the cafeteria every day is exceptional.”
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Saleh’s announcement sparked debate within the nutrition community, which remains divided on the topic.
“There is a lot of evidence to suggest that seed oils are not bad for you. On the contrary, they are good for you,” said Matti Marklund, Ph.D., MSE, 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 NETWORK / USA TODAY via Imagn Images)
The Titans open the regular season on September 13 by hosting the New York Jets, the team Saleh coached from 2021-2024.
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.
Hemp seed oil has generally been found to be free of cannabinoids and is unlikely to trigger a positive THC test. But unrefined hemp oils, hemp seed protein powders, and products made from whole or crushed hemp seeds may contain trace amounts of THC metabolites. High levels of these 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 dips and sauces 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 trigger a positive drug test, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
“Ingesting poppy seeds containing morphine and codeine may result in positive opiate tests and mislead interpretation of results in forensic and clinical settings. Several publications have evaluated urinary opiate concentrations following ingestion of poppy seeds,” according to the NLM.
In 2016, the independent administrator of the NFL’s drug testing program warned players against consuming meat produced in China and Mexico due to concerns about clenbuterol contamination. Clenbuterol is a stimulant associated with muscle growth and weight loss.
This substance is prohibited under the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. “Consuming large quantities of meat while visiting these particular countries may result in a positive test,” the administrator’s memo said at the time.
