Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur, and run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel. Those are the names of the San Francisco 49ers assistants reportedly garnering interest from the Cleveland Browns.
Saleh will be interviewed over the weekend while the 49ers enjoy some time off courtesy of a first-round bye in the playoffs. LaFleur's interview will not take place at the same time, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The #Browns will head to Santa Clara this weekend and interview #49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, source said. He's the only SF assistant coach on their docket for an interview at this point.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 1, 2020
"It's actually a perfect situation for Saleh, just like it was for me (when interviewing for the 49ers job in 2017), just because I was fortunate to have the bye week, also," head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week. "We're going to get a couple of days off at the end of this week, and that's the only thing that stinks for Saleh because he won't get those days off because he'll be preparing for an interview on one day and then probably doing the interview the next day."
The Browns have not yet made an official request to speak with McDaniel.
While the initial report on LaFleur stated that the 49ers assistant was a candidate for the head-coaching job in Cleveland, it is entirely possible that both he and McDaniel are candidates for an offensive coordinator to be paired with Saleh, should that interview go well.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that LaFleur and McDaniel are both in "wait-and-see modes" without a clear indication of the Browns' interest.
It is my understanding that as of last night, #49ers offensive assistants Mike LaFleur and Mike McDaniel were in wait-and-see modes and did not know exactly where things stood, as far as the reported Browns' interest. https://t.co/P88K0GqeqM
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 1, 2020
San Francisco doesn't play its first playoff game until Saturday, January 11, when it hosts the lowest-seeded team to emerge from this weekend's playoff games.
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