The Robert Saleh saga has taken an intriguing turn. According to Michael Silver of The Athletic, the man San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is eyeing for the defensive coordinator role did not travel to Jacksonville today as initially expected. Saleh is one of several candidates for the Jaguars' head coaching vacancy and was scheduled to participate in his second interview on Friday.
Saleh, the former New York Jets head coach and 49ers defensive coordinator, is reportedly waiting for "developments to unfold."
Robert Saleh did not, in fact, fly to Jacksonville today... as he waited for developments to unfold
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 24, 2025
Meanwhile, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who had previously canceled his second interview with the Jaguars to remain in Tampa, has informed head coach Todd Bowles of his renewed interest in revisiting the opportunity. Coen was considered one of the favorites to land the job in Jacksonville.
To be clear, the Liam Coen contacted head coach Todd Bowles around 5 p. m. Thursday. He said he had been with one of his kids, who had taken ill, at a doctors office. He mentioned the Jaguars situation only briefly, saying he wanted to look back into it.
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 24, 2025
"Saleh, meanwhile, was supposed to fly to Jacksonville late Thursday for an interview Friday, his second with Jacksonville," The Athletic noted. "As the Coen news broke, however, he canceled that flight."
The timing here may not be coincidental. The Jaguars' recent decision to fire general manager Trent Baalke has undoubtedly made the head coach position more attractive to prospective candidates. Perhaps that includes Coen.
As for Saleh, Silver believes a reunion with the 49ers is now imminent. Saleh previously served as San Francisco's defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before the Jets hired him to be their head coach.
I expect the 49ers to rehire Robert Saleh as their defensive coordinator soon
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 24, 2025
"According to league sources briefed on the coaching search, the San Francisco 49ers are expected to land the top target of their defensive coordinator search, the man who in 2017 established the system the 49ers have run ever since," The Athletic reported.
Saleh would step in to replace Nick Sorensen, who held the role of 49ers defensive coordinator for only one season.