If you search for Robert Saleh's name on Twitter, you will see a lot of chatter surrounding the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator being linked to the Detroit Lions' head-coaching vacancy. The coach seems like a good fit with the NFC North team. Judging by the comments from fans, it seems like the potential hire would be well-received.
Oh, and Saleh has ties to Michigan, which is a plus in Lions fans' eyes.
According to Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that Saleh is the front-runner for the Lions job. Glazer also reportedly stated that the 49ers defensive coordinator will have other options, too, so it sounds like Saleh will be in high demand after the season.
Robert Saleh is the leader in the clubhouse for the Lions job, @JayGlazer said on FOX.
Saleh has other options, Glazer added. pic.twitter.com/4RwF0vSpWG
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 6, 2020
That is good news for Saleh but bad news for Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers head coach knows he will lose his valuable assistant eventually. He thought he might lose Saleh to the Cleveland Browns after last season and was ecstatic when Saleh didn't land that job.
"I'm always concerned. I never want to lose Saleh," Shanahan said last weekend. "I never want to lose any of our coaches, to tell you the truth. I thought he deserved one last year. Whether this game happened or not, it's a matter of time before he becomes one. I keep telling him don't be mad at me because I know he's going to become one eventually."
Shanahan hired Saleh in 2017, shortly after taking over the head coaching job with the 49ers. San Francisco's defense ranks No. 6 in total yards allowed per game, No. 4 in passing yards allowed, No. 10 in rushing yards allowed, and No. 11 in points allowed. That's impressive considering how many injuries the roster has endured this season.
Saleh was asked this past week about all the chatter linking him to the Lions job.
"This league is so week to week, and the most important week right now is Monday Night Football against Buffalo," Saleh responded. "We've got a team that's in the middle of the playoff hunt, so it's really a non-issue for me. I don't talk about it. I don't really even see it. I don't have social media. I don't look into the news. So, it's probably more for family and friends to enjoy and get a kick out of than it is for me.
"We're completely locked into Buffalo."