The Jets completed a second interview with 49ers DC Robert Saleh. After virtually speaking to Saleh on January 8, the Green & White introduced him on a visit to One Jets Drive.
Saleh, 41, has coached 16 seasons in the NFL and has been the DC of 2017 since the 49ers. Despite injuries to key players such as DL Nick Bosa and CB Richard Sherman in the 2020 season, his defense was in the top five in the NFL in meters per game (314.3), passing meters per game (207.9) and third down (35.5%). His unit was also in the top 10 in rushing per game (106.4) and red zone TDs (57.8%).
In 2019, Saleh was named Coordinator of the Year The Sports News after leading the NFL’s No. 2 defense in total yards (281.8), the least by the team since 1997. San Francisco also led the NFL in passing yards per game (169.2), the least in the league since the Jets in 2009 (153.7). Saleh helped develop newcomer DL Nick Bosa, who won the _Associated Press _Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The 49ers were the only team in the NFL to have at least four players with at least 6.5 pockets in 2019 (Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford).
Saleh, who hails from Dearborn, MI, and attended the University of Northern Michigan University, began his coaching career in Michigan in 2002 as a Defense Assistant. He was in the same role in Central Michigan in 2004 and Georgia in 2005 before getting his first job in the NFL as a defensive intern with the Texans in 2005. He worked in Houston as a defensive quality control coach (2006-8) and assistant coach for lineouts (2009-10). Saleh then took a position with the Seahawks in 2011 as a defensive coach for quality control and won a Super Bowl there. In 2014, he took the coaching job for the Jaguars before being named the 49ers DC in ’17.
The Jets completed interviews with eight other candidates: Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, Bengals’ former head coach Marvin Lewis, Panthers’ OC Joe Brady, Bills OC Brian Daboll, Colts’ DC Matt Eberflus, Rams’ DC Brandon Staley, Titans’ OC Arthur Smith and Saints Secondary Coach Aaron Glenn.
Saleh is the first candidate to complete a second interview.