The Cleveland Browns have reportedly narrowed down their list of head-coaching candidates to three. They are Josh McDaniels, Kevin Stefanski, and Brian Daboll, says Volin. The Browns will reportedly wrap up the hiring process by tonight or tomorrow.
That, of course, means Cleveland is passing on Saleh and the other candidates for the job. It also means 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan retains his defensive coordinator for at least another year.
Saleh, 40, interviewed with the Browns in the Santa Clara area on Saturday, January 4. Cleveland was also reportedly interested in 49ers passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur and run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel. The interest was likely as potential offensive coordinator candidates should Saleh emerge as a top candidate. Neither LaFleur nor McDaniel was interviewed by the Browns.
Saleh is in his 15th NFL season and third season with San Francisco. He helped transform the 49ers defense into the No. 2 ranked (points allowed) unit in the NFL. Before joining head coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, Saleh spent three seasons as the Jacksonville Jaguars linebackers coach along with various assistant roles before that with the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.
San Francisco is preparing to host the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday at Levi's Stadium. Saleh was asked this week about the interview with Cleveland.
"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 responded. "So, with respect to everybody, I'd just like to keep it about them."
Cleveland decision-makers fired coach Freddie Kitchens following the team's Week 17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The Browns were a much-hyped Super Bowl contender entering the 2019 season but finished with a 6-10 record.
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.
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