Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is actively pursuing new opportunities, interviewing for two head coaching vacancies this week. On Tuesday, he completed his interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars and is scheduled to meet with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday.
Amid the coaching carousel, ESPN's Dan Graziano shared his predictions for how the current round of coaching searches might play out. Surprisingly, Saleh's name was not included among the potential hires for the six head coach openings.
While that may be disappointing for Saleh, it could prove advantageous for the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers are reportedly keen on bringing Saleh back as their defensive coordinator, a role he previously held with great success.
Saleh's return to San Francisco would mark a homecoming. He served as Shanahan's first defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, playing a pivotal role in the 49ers' dominant defensive performance during their 2019 Super Bowl run. His success in San Francisco catapulted him to a head coaching role with the Jets in 2021.
Graziano predicts that the Jaguars will hire Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady as their next head coach but acknowledges Saleh as a "sleeper" candidate for the position.
"A sleeper here could be Robert Saleh, whose interview with the team will happen Tuesday," Graziano wrote. "Saleh, who was fired as the Jets' head coach early in the 2024 season, spent three seasons as the Jaguars' linebackers coach on Gus Bradley's staff from 2014 to 2016."
Shanahan has already interviewed Saleh for the 49ers' defensive coordinator vacancy and is likely awaiting the outcomes of Saleh's head coach interviews before moving forward. The 49ers are also exploring other options, having interviewed Detroit Lions defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend for the role.
If Saleh doesn't land a head coaching position, his reunion with Shanahan could bolster the 49ers' defense and help the team rebound from a disappointing 6-11 campaign.
