San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was interviewed on Saturday for the Cleveland Browns' head coaching vacancy. So naturally, he was asked after Wednesday's practice about the process. With a playoff matchup against the Minnesota Vikings right around the corner, however, the defensive coordinator didn't want to discuss the experience too much.
"I'll be honest; I'm very grateful for Cleveland coming out here, and their hospitality and all that, but I'm so locked in on Minnesota," Saleh told reporters. "So, with respect to everybody, I'd just like to keep it about them."
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan sounded pretty confident about how his defensive coordinator did during his interview. Because they had a first-round bye in the playoffs, the team was able to enjoy a little time off to get their bodies and minds right before the work to prepare for the Vikings began.
"When all of us had a couple off days to rest with our families, Saleh was in here working for an interview," Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday. "I mean, you have to ask [the Browns how the interview went]. Pretty confident how Saleh did. Saleh is well prepared for that type of stuff. He's unbelievably impressive.
"If anyone sits down and interviews him, just like he was when I did (in 2017), if that's what they're looking for, I know they were going to be pumped with what they saw."
Shanahan isn't the only one in the building who believes in the defensive coordinator. Veteran cornerback Richard Sherman also believes Saleh would make a fantastic head coach, but also made it clear he questions whether or not he will be given a fair opportunity.
"I 100 percent believe he's deserving of a head coaching job," Sherman said on Wednesday. "He's done a great job. He commands the room really well. He has a great way of relating to his players and holding them accountable.
"But like I said before, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what I think. The people who make those decisions don't seem like they're hiring people of color very often."
