The New York Jets has its next head coach. On thursday, the team announced he had reached an agreement with former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to take over. Saleh will replace Adam Gase, who made 9-23 in his two seasons as a Jets coach.
Saleh interviewed Jets CEO Christopher Johnson and GM Joe Douglas earlier this week. The Jets launched a wide network when it came to interviewing coach candidates. Saleh was one of nine coach candidates to be interviewed by the Jets. After helping to shape an elite 49ers defense in 2019 before falling victim to bad luck in 2020, Saleh was a hot candidate in the coaching market. In addition to the Jets, Saleh met with the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars, the latter of whom hired Urban Meyer.
Saleh’s defenses with the 49ers were probably his main selling point. Just a season after training the elite NFL unit, he remained in the top half of all major statistical categories, despite losing a number of starters, including his best defensive player, Nick Bosa. Saleh’s 49ers defensive ranked 3rd in 2019 in the EPA (expected points against) per game and 6th in 2020. Saleh, 41, becomes the 20th head coach in the history of the Jets franchise and fourth in the last few eight years.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPNSaleh will bring with him another assistant coach for the 49ers – passing game coordinator, Mike LaFleur. In New York, LaFleur will take over as coordinator of the offensive under Saleh. This is a really interesting signing, especially since there has been speculation about how the current Jets quarterback Sam Darnold would be on Kyle Shanahan’s offensive system.
The expectation is that LaFleur will bring a similar system, albeit with its own wrinkles, and that would be a good fit for choice number 3 of the general draft. LaFleur is the brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, and previously served on the offensive team led by Kyle Shanahan (Cleveland, Atlanta) before following him to San Francisco, first as a wide receivers coach and then as a passing game coordinator.
It remains to be seen if Darnold is in the future plans for New York, as he currently holds the second overall choice in the NFL’s 2021 Draft and can choose to select a new franchise signal caller.
49ers cornerback Richard Sherman expressly supported Saleh receiving coaching and tweeted his congratulations to the Jets. Sherman is a free agent in this off season and could be someone to keep an eye on while the Jets look to improve their secondary in this off season.
Saleh is also liked and respected by all 49ers defensive players, including Pro Bowl linebacker Fred Warner. Saleh played a key role in the development of Warner, a former choice for the third round, in one of the NFL’s best off-ball linebackers.
“Best DC in the league,” Warner told reporters ahead of the 49ers’ final game of the season. “I have so much respect for that guy. He’s so smart and, above all, he knows exactly what he wants. He makes everything clear to everyone, black and white. We know exactly what to do with any snap, with no gray area.
“I love that guy. I know he is going to be a great coach soon.”
Now, after joining the NFL in 2005 as a Texan intern, Saleh has a chance to prove that he can be the great coach that players who have prepared for him believe he can become.