"I expect him to be a head coach next year because of what he's able to do," Sherman told reporters via Zoom. "He's able to rally men. He's a leader of men, and that goes a long way."
The Detroit Lions have a head-coaching vacancy, and Sherman laid out to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated why he thinks Saleh should get the job.
"He has to get the Detroit job," Sherman texted to Breer after the game. "Homegrown. He's a great leader of men. And he's not stubborn. He doesn't just think he has all the answers. He comes up with a great plan and evolves it with his players."
What Saleh has done this season has been remarkable. Yes, he guided a talent-rich top defense last season — a unit that was a big part of the 49ers' Super Bowl run — but this season has been different. Injuries have decimated the roster, yet Saleh's defense ranks No. 6 in total yards allowed per game, No. 4 against the pass, No. 10 against the run, and No. 11 in points allowed per game.
And Saleh's defense (for the most part) put on a show on Sunday against the Rams, forcing four turnovers. It was almost as if the coordinator were auditioning for a head-coaching job.
"We battle for that man!" Sherman continued in the text. "He's a great human being. Makes you want to fight for him."
Head coach Kyle Shanahan knows he won't have Saleh with him forever. He thought maybe he might lose his defensive coordinator after last season and was relieved when the Cleveland Browns chose Kevin Stefanski over Saleh.
"I'm always concerned. I never want to lose Saleh," Shanahan said after Sunday's game. "I never want to lose any of our coaches, to tell you the truth. I thought he deserved [a head coach job] last year. Whether this game happened or not, it's a matter of time before he becomes one. I keep telling him don't be mad at me, because I know he's going to become one eventually."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers an abomination? GM John Lynch says team has been undisciplined, not "playing clean"
Someone has stolen the San Francisco 49ers and replaced them with a team that looks like a shell of its old self. The 2024 version of the defending NFC Champions is stale, sloppy, and prone to playing down to its opponent. Not surprisingly, the 49ers currently stand at 5-6 and... -
49ers' Kyle Shanahan on blocking out online noise: 'Don't make someone else's reality your reality'
Kyle Shanahan takes a pragmatic approach to handling online criticism—he ignores it. The San Francisco 49ers head coach recently opened up about his mindset during a challenging season for his squad, which was once considered a Super Bowl favorite but is now 5-6 and... -
49ers' McCaffrey-Mason Dilemma: Will a running back rotation fix Shanahan's red-zone crisis?
Breaking down the 49ers' ground game struggles, red-zone issues, and running back rotation - Part 1 It hasn't exactly been the San Francisco 49ers' year. 2024 began with a brutal overtime loss in February, followed by an offseason where wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was traded... -
Brock Purdy throwing at 49ers practice on Friday; No Trent Williams or Nick Bosa
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy appears to be making strides in his recovery from a shoulder injury. During the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Purdy was seen throwing—a notable improvement after limited activity earlier in the week. Unlike...