When Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch wanted to establish a modeling culture with their arrival in San Francisco in 2017, the foundation began to take shape with the addition of defense coordinator Robert Saleh. After inheriting a defense that sat in a number of categories near the bottom of the league, Saleh helped turn San Francisco into a Top-5 unit over the past two seasons, including the team’s top defense and number 2’s total defense during the 49ers 2019 Super Bowl run.
The New York Jets announced Thursday that they agree in principle that Saleh will become their 20th head coach in franchise history. Saleh will take over a Jets defense that finishes 26th in the allowed points (28.5) and 24th in yards per game (387.5).
As one of the most popular candidates across seven vacancies in the NFL, Saleh becomes the second head coach to find a landing spot. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ decision to hire former Ohio head coach Urban Meyer has become the first shoe to drop the coaching carousel.
Look at reactions from across the league after Saleh’s appointment.