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Robert Saleh

Jaguars Schedule Second HC Interviews With Patrick Graham, Liam Coen

January 20th, 2025 at 6:25pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jaguars are planning second interviews with former Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham and current Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Graham and Coen will join former Jets head coach Robert Saleh on the shortlist for the Jaguars, which will no longer include Ben Johnson after he agreed to join the Bears. Both coaches will have in-person interviews with Jacksonville’s decision-makers, a group that still includes general manager Trent Baalke. His presence was more of a concern when pickier candidates like Johnson and Mike Vrabel were in the mix, but Graham and Coen – who are not interviewing for any other head coaching jobs – may not be as demanding. Saleh has interviewed with the Raiders and the Cowboys and may be looking for more personnel control after an imperfect partnership with Joe Douglas in New York. He could get that in Las Vegas, who are looking for a new general manager after firing Tom Telesco, but not Dallas, where owner Jerry Jones will continue to make roster decisions.

Now that the biggest domino in the cycle has fallen with Johnson’s move to Chicago, other teams’ hiring proceses should speed up. Coen is set to interview on Wednesday, followed by Graham on Thursday and Saleh on Friday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, putting the Jaguars in a position to make a final decision in the next two weeks

Coen did well in his first interview with the Jaguars, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. It earned him a second interview in Jacksonville and, even if he doesn’t land the job, will improve his stock heading into next offseason’s hiring cycle.

Jaguars Schedule Second Robert Saleh HC Interview

January 20th, 2025 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Ben Johnson having chosen the Bears, the AFC South team is looking at other options. After Robert Saleh impressed the Jaguars during his first meeting, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a second interview is on tap.

Saleh will meet again with Jags brass Friday. The former Jets HC interviewed for the Cowboys and Raiders’ jobs and looks to have a 49ers DC reunion in his back pocket if another top job does not pan out. But Saleh appears to have a legitimate chance of landing another HC job months after being fired.

Saleh’s Cowboys and Raiders meetings commenced last week; he met with the Jags on January 14. While Saleh being a coveted option after three sub-.500 Jets seasons could speak to this year’s thinner talent pool — the long-held perception, at least — Gang Green’s tumble after Woody Johnson‘s abrupt decision to fire his head coach five games into this season may also have helped the defense-minded coach’s stock. The Jets went from 2-3 under Saleh this year to a 5-12 finish. The team also finished worse with Aaron Rodgers as a 17-game starter than it did with Saleh coaching Zach Wilson; the Jets went 7-10 in 2022 and ’23.

The Jags and Saleh have a short history together as well. Saleh’s springboard to his 49ers DC opportunity came after he coached the Jags’ linebackers from 2014-16. While this was not exactly a memorable period for the franchise, as it finished with double-digit losses in each of those years, Saleh was hired during Shad Khan‘s ownership tenure.

The Jets rocketed from last place in scoring and total defense in Saleh’s first season (2021) to fourth in both categories in his second. The Wilson-Nathaniel Hackett partnership put the Jets’ defense in tougher spots in 2023, when they ranked 12th in scoring. That season still produced a fourth-place finish in total defense for a unit doomed by the team’s untenable QB situation. Saleh would walk into a better spot in Jacksonville, but it remains to be seen if his resume would warrant such a bump so soon after a firing. A Saleh hire would also place great importance on identifying a play-caller to further Trevor Lawrence‘s development.

Buccaneers OC Liam Coen has been closely tied to this job. Although he has less experience on the coordinator level than Saleh, the former Sean McVay lieutenant has been mentioned as a name to watch here. It would not surprise if the Tampa Bay play-caller books a second interview as well. Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Jags’ process looks as of Monday afternoon:

49ers Expected To Offer Robert Saleh DC Job

January 18th, 2025 at 11:50am CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY: While it’s been more than a week since Robert Saleh was first connected to the 49ers defensive coordinator job, he remains the favorite. Matt Barrows of The Athletic recently said “it’s Robert Saleh or bust” for San Francisco, with sources telling the reporter that the 49ers promised to make their former DC one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL (h/t @Coach_Yac).

JANUARY 8th: Preparing to hire a fourth defensive coordinator in four years, the 49ers have a familiar name on the radar. As could be expected based on his success in San Francisco (and the Jets’ freefall after his early-season firing), Robert Saleh is a name to monitor in this search.

Although the Jaguars are set to meet with Saleh about their head coaching job on Jan. 14, veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reports the former 49ers DC can expect to receive an offer about returning to that job soon as well.

[RELATED: 49ers Fire ST Coordinator Brian Schneider]

Saleh was the 49ers’ DC from 2017-20 and spent the past three-plus seasons heading up the Jets’ defense — one that climbed into the top five in the NFL in 2022 and ’23. The Jets dismissed him from his post after five games this past season. After starting 2-3, Gang Green finished the season 5-12. While the 49ers attempted to land Jeff Ulbrich for their DC post last year, his recent boss appears to be the priority for the NFC West franchise.

The 49ers are not bringing Nick Sorensen back as DC, but they are also not certain to be removing their 2024 defensive play-caller from their staff. A special teams coordinator position has opened up, and Sorensen has experience in that area. As for the higher-profile job, the team has been connected to Saleh, Ulbrich and Gus Bradley in the early stages of this search. The 49ers must interview one external minority candidate to satisfy the Rooney Rule; a Saleh meeting would qualify.

Cementing himself as a head coaching candidate during the 2021 cycle, Saleh did not fare well as the Jets’ HC. The team’s Zach Wilson investment had plenty to do with that, and the Jets quickly launched a turnaround on defense. After ranking last in Saleh’s 2021 debut season, the Jets rocketed to fourth in points and yards allowed in 2022. In 2023, New York’s defense finished third in yardage allowed and 12th in points. To be fair to Ulbrich, the unit again ranked third in total defense this season; it ranked 20th in scoring as the wheels came off post-Saleh.

Saleh, 45, was at the controls when the 49ers completed a remarkable ascent in 2019. After a 4-12 2018 season that netted the team Nick Bosa at No. 2 overall, San Francisco earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed and stampeded through the NFC playoffs before a Super Bowl LIV loss to the Chiefs. Saleh’s unit ranked fourth in scoring defense that year. Despite the 49ers losing Bosa early during an injury-plagued 2020 season — one that reminded of the team’s 2024 slate — Saleh’s troops remained a top-five total defense.

It will be interesting to see how fast the 49ers move on this, with Saleh presumably interested in hearing the Jaguars out about a return to a top job. Jacksonville is the only team thus far to request an HC interview with the recently fired Jets coach/current Packers consultant, so it is possible San Francisco will not need to wait too long for an answer.

2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

January 17th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. We are still a bit away from the floodgates opening on the OC and DC markets, due to many HC jobs remaining open, but here is an early look at the coordinator openings and the candidates in the mix to fill them. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-22-25 (8:10am CT)

Offensive coordinators

Cleveland Browns (out: Ken Dorsey)

New England Patriots (out: Alex Van Pelt)

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks (out: Ryan Grubb)

Defensive coordinators

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)

Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)

New England Patriots

  • Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
  • Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired

San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)

2025 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker

January 15th, 2025 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy splitting up, seven teams have made coaching changes so far during this year’s cycle. Here are the candidates connected to each of the now-HC-needy franchises. If more teams make changes, they will be added to the list.

Updated 1-22-25 (1:45pm CT)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Cowboys Plan To Meet With Robert Saleh

January 15th, 2025 at 10:40am CST by Sam Robinson

As they have been known to do, the Cowboys went through with an unusual separation with their head coach. The team moved on from Mike McCarthy a week after Black Monday, thus delaying its entrance onto the coaching carousel.

Dallas is getting started on its candidates, however. The first known name will be Robert Saleh, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reporting the former Jets coach received an interview request. Saleh is already on the Jaguars and Raiders’ interview lists, and he has been closely tied to a potential return to the 49ers as defensive coordinator.

[RELATED: 49ers Expected To Offer Saleh DC Job?]

Saleh has completed his Jaguars meeting; his Raiders summit is set for Thursday. No date for Saleh’s Cowboys meeting has emerged, but the unattached coach should be expected to take the interview. Saleh spent four seasons working for an owner (Woody Johnson) who received criticism for meddling. That would be sufficient prep for Jerry Jones, who operates as the Cowboys’ owner and GM.

The Jets fired Saleh five games into this season; they went 3-9 without him after a 2-3 start. New York’s skid under Jeff Ulbrich made Saleh’s tenure look a bit better. The Broncos keeping Zach Wilson as their No. 3 quarterback all season did as well. Saleh went 7-10 in back-to-back seasons with Wilson as the primary triggerman, and the Jets boasted a No. 4 ranking in total defense in both years after beginning Saleh’s tenure ranking last. The Cowboys have not gone defense for a coaching hire since Wade Phillips in 2007, but they will surely be tied to a few candidates on both sides of the ball during this cycle.

The Cowboys’ 2020 coaching search was quite thin, however. The team only met with McCarthy and Marvin Lewis, satisfying the Rooney Rule — which has since been beefed up. Dallas must meet with two external minorities. It would be rather unusual to see Jones pass on a true search once again, but this franchise has operated differently when it comes to head coaches for several years now.

Deion Sanders has already discussed the job with Jones, and while the Colorado HC reaffirmed his commitment to the Big 12 program, he called the job “intriguing” in doing so. A Sanders extension at Colorado may be in the offing, as the Cowboys present potential leverage, but it does not appear the former Cowboys superstar is truly out of the running yet. More traditional candidates are coming, however, with Saleh being the first.

49ers Interview Robert Saleh, Deshea Townsend For DC Job

January 9th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers completed interviews with Robert Saleh and Deshea Townsend for their vacant defensive coordinator position, per a team announcement and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Saleh was fired as the Jets head coach in October and previously served as the 49ers defensive coordinator for four seasons. He arrived in 2017 with Kyle Shanahan and inherited a defense that ranked 32nd in yards allowed. Saleh turned the 49ers defense into a top-10 unit by the time he left for New York after the 2020 season. His tenure with the Jets was plagued by poor quarterback play and interference from ownership, though Saleh maintained his standard of defensive excellence until his firing.

The 45-year-old is considered the favorite to land the 49ers’ DC job, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, in no small part due to his familiarity with the team’s roster and scheme. Saleh is also planning to interview with the Jaguars for their head coaching position, so he may hold off on accepting the job in San Francisco before the Jaguars have made their decision.

Jeff Ulbrich, who was Saleh’s defensive coordinator in New York and finished this season as interim head coach, could also be a candidate for the DC job in San Francisco if he is not retained by the Jets, Fowler adds. Ulbrich spent his entire 10-year playing career with the 49ers and was recruited by his former team last offseason, though the Jets prevented him from interviewing. The defense led by Saleh and Ulbrich in New York was based on Saleh’s system in San Francisco, so Ulbrich should still have plenty of schematic familiarity.

Townsend is a former 13-year NFL cornerback who has been a defensive backs coach for seven NFL teams, as well as Mississippi State University. He is currently the Lions’ passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach and has played a crucial role in keeping their defense afloat despite a myriad of injuries. Townsend could also be a candidate for the Lions’ DC job if Aaron Glenn takes a head coaching job elsewhere.

Raiders To Meet With Robert Saleh

January 9th, 2025 at 11:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Robert Saleh could have the 49ers’ defensive coordinator gig — what would be a second time in that role — in his back pocket, though time may be an issue for both parties. A second head coach interview request has since come Saleh’s way.

After the Jaguars requested a meeting, Saleh is set to meet with the Raiders, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Saleh’s Jaguars interview is slated for Tuesday, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds Saleh’s Raiders meeting is scheduled for next week.

Las Vegas’ search party remains in the early stages. The team did secure a meeting with Lions OC Ben Johnson, who again resides as one of the top names on the market. Saleh joins Glenn and Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo as defense-oriented options to receive Raiders requests. This represents more momentum for Saleh, who has been working with the Packers in an advisory role for several weeks.

The Jets fired Saleh after the team started 2-3. No interim bounce occurred, as Jeff Ulbrich was unable to revive the team’s prospects in the way Woody Johnson hoped. The Jets’ first (and likely last) season with Aaron Rodgers as the full-time starter deteriorated following Saleh’s ouster. Saleh, 45, dealt with several Rodgers-generated hiccups — the minicamp absence among them — and saw his HC stint largely defined by Zach Wilson‘s struggles in the three years prior.

Though, Saleh improved the Jets’ defense significantly in that span. After New York ranked last across the board defensively in 2021, Saleh and Ulbrich vaulted the unit to fourth in 2022. It remained a top-five total defense in both 2023 and ’24. Ulbrich remains in play for the Jets’ full-time HC post, though he is not considered the favorite for a team starting over in the front office as well. In the meantime, Saleh will be set to tell some interesting stories to two AFC suitors. More DC interest stands to emerge if he does not land either top job.

Via PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, here is how the Raiders’ hunt looks on Day 2 post-Antonio Pierce:

Nick Sorensen Won’t Return As 49ers Defensive Coordinator

January 7th, 2025 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four years. Nick Sorensen won’t return as the 49ers defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

However, Sorensen’s stint in San Francisco may not be over. Maiocco adds that the 49ers are hoping they can keep the coach on Kyle Shanahan’s staff for next season. One option could be special teams coordinator, as Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes. The 49ers fired ST coordinator Brian Schneider the other day, and Sorensen served in that role during his time with the Jaguars.

After ranking third in points allowed in 2023, the 49ers dropped to 29th during Sorenson’s first season at the helm. The defense also struggled to generate turnovers, with Cam Inman of the Mercury News noting that the team had zero interceptions over their final seven games and only one fumble recovery over their final 11 games.

There was hope that Sorenson would help guide the 49ers to a new level after the team fired Steve Wilks last offseason. The former NFL journeyman moved quickly through the coaching ranks in San Francisco, where he worked his way up from a defensive assistant to defensive pass game specialist to defensive coordinator in three seasons. In addition to his one-year stint as Jaguars ST coordinator, Sorenson also had experience coaching defense with the Seahawks, where he served as the team’s secondary coach during the final seasons of the Legion of Boom era.

While the 49ers dealt with a long list of injuries, the team clearly wasn’t willing to tolerate the clear regression from the defense in 2024. Now, the organization will be seeking their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons. Prior to Wilks one-year stint as defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans spent two years in the role before becoming head coach of the Texans.

Ryans’ predecessor, Robert Saleh, could be a candidate to take over for Sorenson, as Inman notes. Saleh spent four years as San Francisco’s defensive coach before leaving to become the Jets head coach in 2021. He was canned by the Jets earlier this season before catching on as a consultant in Green Bay, and he’s already emerged as a candidate for the Jaguars head coaching vacancy. It’s more likely that Saleh’s return to coaching will require a stop as coordinator, and a familiar spot in San Francisco could be his softest-possible landing.

Inman also points to Jeff Ulbrich and Gus Bradley as potential candidates for the 49ers new DC opening. Ulbrich most recently served as Saleh’s interim replacement in New York, and that was preceded by a three-plus-year stint as the Jets DC. The veteran coach crossed paths with Shanahan in Atlanta, and he spent his entire 10-year playing career in San Francisco.

Bradley and Shanahan have never worked alongside each other, but the veteran coach brings plenty of experience. Bradley most recently served as the Colts defensive coordinator, a role he held for three seasons before getting dismissed yesterday. Bradley also held DC roles with the Raiders, Chargers, and Seahawks, and he had a four-year stint as head coach with the Jaguars.

Jaguars Submit HC Interview Requests

January 7th, 2025 at 11:09am CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Jaguars fired Doug Pederson following his third season at the helm. As a result, Jacksonville is one of five teams in need of a new head coach.

On Monday, it was learned a trio of offensive coordinators were on the Jaguars’ radar: Ben Johnson (Lions), Liam Coen (Buccaneers) and Joe Brady (Bills). All three have indeed received an interview request, but the team announced on Tuesday that other coaches are also on the radar.

Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is among the coaches whom the Jags are seeking an interview with. Monken has already received a slip from the Bears, and it comes as little surprise he is drawing interest from multiple suitors. Baltimore led the league in total offense this season, ranking third in scoring with an average of 30.5 points per game. A veteran position coach and coordinator at the college and pro levels, the 58-year-old has never been a head coach in the NFL.

Another OC on the Jaguars’ radar is Kellen Moore. Following a four-year run as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator, the former quarterback spent the 2023 season in the same role with the Chargers. With the Bolts making sweeping moves on the sidelines last offseason under Jim Harbaugh, though, Moore was expectedly on the move again in the 2024 hiring cycle. The 35-year-old has worked with the Eagles this year, and the team ranks top-10 in points and yards per game. Moore has also received an interview request from the Saints for their HC position.

A trio of coaches with a defensive background have received a slip from Jacksonville. That includes, interestingly, Robert Saleh. The 45-year-old was this season’s first head firing when his Jets tenure came to an end in Year 4. Saleh’s coaching history also includes four years as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator and, prior to that, several gigs as a positional coach. One of those was Jacksonville’s linebackers coach from 2014-16. Saleh has worked with the Packers since October, and it will be interesting to see if he considers a return to Duval County during this year’s hiring cycle.

In addition, Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham has received an interview request. He spent the past three seasons leading Vegas’ defense, and he also has experience as a DC with the Dolphins and Giants. Graham, 45, served as an assistant head coach during two of his years in New York, but he has never led a staff at the college or NFL levels. This is his first HC interview request of the 2025 hiring cycle.

Rounding out the Jags’ list is Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. To little surprise, he has joined Johnson as one of the top candidates this year, and his name has been attached to three other suitors. Jacksonville could therefore have competition for his services if an interview is arranged and it goes well.

Many were surprised when it was learned Jags general manager Trent Baalke will be retained in the wake of Pederson’s dismissal. Questions have been raised about how willing the top candidates will be to head to Jacksonville as a result, and it will be interesting to see how many of the team’s initial targets set up an interview over the near future.

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