Teams in need of a head coach are now permitted to interview candidates whose teams played over the weekend, and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is already drawing significant interest.
According to reports, at least five teams have requested interviews with Saleh: the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans.
Saleh returned to the 49ers last year after previously serving on Kyle Shanahan's staff from 2017 to 2020. He left San Francisco to become the head coach of the New York Jets, a role he held until his dismissal during the 2024 season. Despite dealing with numerous injuries this year, the 49ers still won 12 games and reached the postseason, highlighted by a Wild Card upset of the Philadelphia Eagles.
ESPN reporter Dan Graziano examined the current NFL hiring cycle and projected potential landing spots for several top candidates. His prediction for Saleh: the Las Vegas Raiders, who fired Pete Carroll after just one season following a 3–14 finish.
"Saleh has been on Las Vegas' short list in the past, and his work in San Francisco this season has caught a lot of people's attention around the league," Graziano wrote. "His Jets tenure didn't go great, but that's true of most people who coach there. It doesn't sound like teams will let his Jets tenure deter them from talking to him this time around."
Saleh compiled a 20–36 record with the Jets and never won more than seven games in a season. New York moved on from him after a 2–3 start in 2024.
"Whoever gets this job (Raiders) must have a plan for offensive coordinator and the development of a young quarterback, likely Indiana's Fernando Mendoza," Graziano added. "But Saleh is part of that Shanahan/McVay network and should have no trouble putting together an offensive staff. The Raiders were last in the NFL with 14.1 offensive points per game and 245.2 yards per game this season."
Other reported candidates for the Raiders' opening include Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, Matt Nagy, Klint Kubiak, Mike LaFleur, Kevin Stefanski, and Ejiro Evero.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are set to face the top-seeded, well-rested Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Saturday, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.