According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Ravens have requested permission to interview Saleh for their head coaching opening, further solidifying his status as one of the most sought-after coaches in this hiring cycle.
The request brings the total number of teams interested in Saleh to four. The Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, and Atlanta Falcons have also asked to speak with the 49ers' defensive coordinator.
Strong interest in Saleh was widely expected. He is highly respected across the NFL as one of the league's premier defensive minds and enjoyed significant success during his first stint with San Francisco from 2017 through 2020, helping build one of the NFL's most dominant defenses.
His second stint with the 49ers has been more challenging, as the unit dealt with significant injuries, including the loss of All-Pros Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.
Saleh also has head coaching experience, having served as the New York Jets' head coach from 2021 through 2024.
With multiple teams pursuing him, Kyle Shanahan's reunion with Saleh could prove to be short-lived. For now, however, Saleh insists his focus remains on the 49ers' upcoming NFC Wild Card matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"The league has done a really nice job with structuring the interview process to allow people to focus on the job at hand, so I haven't thought about any of it," Saleh said on Thursday. "I know things come in, but that's not something I have to deal with until next week, so I'm completely focused on Philly."
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