Latest Jaguars head coaching news spells trouble for the 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen was scheduled for a second interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers were already preparing for Coen's potential departure.

"[T]here's a growing belief that it's Coen's job to lose," Stroud reported. "Not only were the Jaguars impressed with the 39-year-old offensive coordinator when he interviewed virtually a week ago, he's also most equipped to resurrect the career of quarterback Trevor Lawrence."

But a day later, things took a turn. ESPN's NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Coen is withdrawing from consideration for the Jaguars' job and opting to stay in Tampa on a new deal, making him one of the highest-paid coordinators in the league.

That's a bad development for the San Francisco 49ers. One of the top remaining candidates for the Jaguars' head coaching position is former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who has his second interview scheduled for Friday.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers anxiously await the outcome of Saleh's interviews, hoping to reunite with their former defensive coordinator. Saleh served in the role from 2017 to 2020 and played a pivotal role in helping the 49ers reach Super Bowl LIV during the 2019 season.

Matt Barrows of The Athletic recently reported that the 49ers are willing to make Saleh the NFL's highest-paid defensive coordinator.

"I've heard that they've already told Saleh, 'We will make you the highest-paid defensive coordinator in all the land if you sign with us,'" Barrows said. "And so now, it's just a matter of waiting for Saleh, and he's getting all sorts of head coaching attention."

The 49ers are naturally hoping the Jaguars pass on Saleh. However, with one of the other leading candidates now out of the picture, the likelihood of Saleh landing in Jacksonville has increased.