New York Jets hire Robert Saleh as next head coach

01/14/2021

Robert Saleh has agreed in principle with the New York Jets to become the next head coach of the organization.

The New York Jets and Robert Saleh have come together. The two sides agreed in principle for the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator to become the organization’s next head coach.

The Jets official Twitter account announced the news late Thursday night.

We've reached an agreement in principle with Robert Saleh to become our head coach.

📰 https://t.co/CiIczkN97j pic.twitter.com/NC3nW27uNa

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 15, 2021

Saleh, 41, has been the Niners DC since 2017. A year ago his unit finished second in total defense. This year—without key players such as Nick Bosa, Solomon Thomas and Dee Ford for most of the season—San Francisco’s defense finished fifth.

The Dearborn, MI native received his start in the NFL in 2005 under Dom Capers in Houston as a defensive intern. Jumping to the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach in 2011, he remained there three seasons, ultimately helping the team to its first Super Bowl victory. Saleh then took a promotion as the Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach for three seasons.

Saleh was one of nine candidates to receive virtual interviews from the Jets. He was one of just two candidates to get second in-person interviews. Saleh arrived at the facility Tuesday and left Wednesday, just before Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith arrived Wednesday night.

After Saleh had left the building without a deal, Jets fans became a bit ornery. Flashbacks to January 2019 danced in the minds of fans who commiserated on Twitter.

After the Saleh interviewed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers, he agreed in principle with the Jets on Thursday.

What was important to remember throughout this process was two-fold:

Firstly, Joe Douglas and Christopher Johnson told the world they were ready to “cast a wide-net.”
Secondly, the pandemic’s role in limiting initial interviews to a virtual setting slowed down the process for every team with an opening.

Speculation surrounds the defensive-minded head coach bringing over either Mike LaFleur or Mike McDaniel as the offensive coordinator. Each has been working on Kyle Shanahan since their days in Atlanta.

Robert Saleh becomes the New York Jets’ 20th head coach in franchise history.