Jets hire Niners’ defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as head coach
NEW YORK — The Jets let Robert Saleh out of the building, but they didn’t let him get far.
The San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator agreed in principle on Thursday night to become the 20th head coach in Jets franchise history, just one day after completing his in-person, second interview at the team’s facility in Florham Park, N.J.
“The @nyjets got a great one!” Niners corner Richard Sherman tweeted.
Saleh, 41, had left the Jets Wednesday afternoon and promptly flew to Florida to interview with Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, making Philadelphia the sixth team to interview Saleh of the seven open jobs.
The Jets, meanwhile, were completing a second, in-person interview on Thursday with Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith at One Jets Drive, as well.
But as league chatter increasingly connected Smith to the Atlanta Falcons’ vacancy on Thursday afternoon, the Jets moved to lock up Saleh to a reported five-year contract, per ESPN.
At least one Jets player seemed thrilled by the hire.
“YESSS SIRRRRRRRRRR,” defensive tackle Quinnen Williams tweeted.
Saleh is seen as more than just a defensive coach. He has a reputation as a leader who can command a room, and the Jets believe he can command a team.
Saleh now will pair with Jets GM Joe Douglas in an effort to rebuild and turn around a long-suffering franchise that is coming off an abysmal 2-14 season, which led to the firing of head coach Adam Gase.
Their major task in their first offseason will be their coinciding decisions on quarterback Sam Darnold and on how to use their No. 2 overall draft pick.
It is widely expected that Saleh will bring San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur with him to be the Jets’ new offensive coordinator. LaFleur is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Darnold was a draft choice of former Jets GM Mike Maccagnan. The new brass has an opportunity to select their own guy if they choose, with Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson high on early draft boards.
Saleh ended up interviewing with the Falcons, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jets and Eagles.
Before the coaching search, the Dearborn, Mich., product was considered a favorite to land in Detroit. But the former Northern Michigan University tight end is now headed to the East Coast.
Saleh ran the 49ers’ defense for the past four seasons under head coach Kyle Shanahan, reaching last year’s Super Bowl and narrowly losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
That 2019 season, his unit finished second overall in total defense and first in pass defense. The Niners’ 169.2 pass yards allowed per game that season were the best since Rex Ryan’s Jets allowed 153.7 per game in 2009.
This past season, however, Saleh arguably did an even more impressive job after losing major contributors such as Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, Solomon Thomas and Sherman to injury.
Without those players, Saleh’s defense still finished in the top 10 in total yards (fifth), rush yards allowed (seventh) and pass yards (fourth).
Then he worked for the Houston Texans from 2005-10, working his way up to assistant linebackers coach before jumping to the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach from 2011-13.
Saleh then coached the Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebackers from 2014-16 before taking over Shanahan’s defense in San Fran in 2017.
He has a strong personality and commands respect from his players. That was his reputation in San Francisco, and that’s what the Jets believe they are getting above all:
A new leader.
