Don’t underestimate Daniel Bellinger’s role in Titans offense

Tennessee Titans safety tight end Daniel Bellinger

Every Tennessee Titans fan is excited about Gunnar Helm. The sophomore no longer has Chig Okonkwo in his way. Okonkwo signed a lucrative contract in free agency, but don’t forget the Titans signed Daniel Bellinger to replace him.

Bellinger will probably play a bigger role than most Titans fans realize. He signed a pretty hefty three-year, $24 million contract with the Titans. The $8 million annual price tag was notable.

New Titans offensive coordinator Brian Daboll coached Bellinger for four seasons with the New York Giants. Signing him was likely a request that came directly from Daboll, just like Wan’Dale Robinson, Austin Schlottmann, and Mitch Trubisky probably were. The Titans‘ new play caller obviously appreciates Bellinger.

Bellinger played 555 snaps for the Giants last season. That accounted for 48.26% of their offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference. By comparison, Helm played 533 snaps as a rookie for the Titans, which averaged out to 50.47% of their offensive snaps.

Both tight ends are used to 50-50 snap shares. That’s possibly the vision for the Bellinger-Helm pairing moving forward. The Titans are also likely to utilize 12 personnel (two tight end sets) more frequently under Daboll than they did under Brian Callahan last season. The Titans led the league in 11 personnel (three receivers) in 2025 under Callahan/Mike McCoy. Expect that to slightly shift under Daboll, who liked 12 personnel in New York.

Bellinger is the superior blocker to Helm. That’s likely why the former San Diego State standout will capture an immediate role in Daboll’s offense. If Helm wants to develop into a true workhorse, he’ll have to become a more effective blocker. Tight ends coach Luke Stocker has discussed that during OTAs.

Helm should be the Titans’ primary pass-catching tight end, but Bellinger will have role in a familiar Daboll offense.