Best team fits former Jets coach

The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh five weeks into the 2024 NFL season, reportedly leaving the fourth-year coach “blindsided.”

Saleh’s dismissal followed The Jets lost in consecutive games to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings. New York began the season with a 2-3 record despite Aaron Rodgers being healthy and available, so Jets owner Woody Johnson decided the team needed a change.

Saleh compiled a 20-36 record during his three-plus seasons with the Jets and never made the postseason. However, he has turned the Jets’ defense into one of the best units in the NFL, and that should allow him to take on another NFL role in a short amount of time.

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It doesn’t look like that will happen in the 2024 NFL season. Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Saleh plans to spend some time with his family as he prepares for the NFL’s next recruiting cycle, which will take place in the 2025 offseason.

Saleh is considered a sought-after candidate for defensive coordinator, but where could he end up? Even this early in the 2024 NFL season, there are plenty of potential suitors for the 45-year-old.

Landing sites by Robert Saleh

Dallas Cowboys

Of course, the best potential landing spots for Saleh will be any team that has coaches on the hot seat. With Saleh now ousted, no one’s seat is hotter than Mike McCarthy’s. He is expected to lead the Cowboys to the playoffs, and anything less than that could prompt Jerry Jones to make a coaching change, especially with Bill Belichick emerging as a potential coaching candidate.

The Cowboys thrived with Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator before he took the head coaching job of the Washington Commanders. Dallas hasn’t had the same defensive success under Mike Zimmer. They only rank 23rd overall in FTN’s defensive DVOA metric, but Saleh could help the Micah Parsons-led team achieve the offensive success it enjoyed under Quinn.

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New Orleans Saints

Saleh had a .357 winning percentage in his three-plus seasons as the Jets’ head coach, the second-worst mark among active NFL coaches. Only Dennis Allen’s .347 mark is worse, so the third-year Saints coach will likely face increased pressure as New Orleans falters after a fast start.

Allen has done a great job with the Saints defense as a coordinator and head coach. His problems come on the offensive side of the ball, where the Saints have struggled to be anything more than mediocre under his leadership. That could lead to New Orleans targeting an offensive-minded coaching candidate if they decide to replace Allen.

If that happens, Saleh would be an ideal coordinator candidate who could continue Allen’s strong work on that side of the ball. Saleh would particularly like to work with Marshon Lattimore and Alontae Taylor in the secondary and could turn New Orleans’ secondary into one of the most fearsome defensive units in the NFL.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Doug Pederson is another notable head coach. The Jaguars were the NFL’s last winless team before their Week 5 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Jacksonville’s defense ranks in the bottom three in both points allowed to opponents and yards allowed this season, so they could use a coordinator swap even if Pederson manages to save his job.

Saleh has ties to the Jaguars, having been the team’s linebackers coach under Gus Bradley and Doug Marrone from 2014 to 2016. That familiarity could influence his decision as the Jaguars search for a new defensive coordinator.

Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor’s spot isn’t quite as coveted as McCarthy, Allen or Pederson’s, but the Bengals’ 1-4 start must have owner Mike Brown thinking about some key personnel moves. Even if Taylor stays, Cincinnati could decide to shake up their defense as Lou Anarumo’s defense struggles.

Anarumo has performed well for most of his six-year tenure with the Bengals, but Cincinnati ranks just 22nd in five-week defensive DVOA this season and is allowing the second-most points per game (29), behind only the Carolina Panthers. That could lead to a change if these issues persist, and Saleh would be a good fit coaching some of Cincinnati’s young defensive talent like Cam Taylor-Britt, Dax Hill and Myles Murphy.

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Indianapolis Colts

Shane Steichen isn’t going to give up just yet given the work he’s done in his first season with the Colts, but Gus Bradley’s job could soon be on the line. He is in his third season with the Colts. In all three seasons, Indianapolis’ scoring defense was in the bottom quartile of the league.

Indianapolis has allowed a league-high 419.2 yards per game in the 2024 season, 25.8 yards per game fewer than the 31st-ranked Jaguars. Suffice it to say, that’s not enough, and Saleh could have thanks to talented athletes like Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu on the defensive line has the potential to turn this defense around quickly.

San Francisco 49ers

Could Saleh return to the 49ers? It’s possible, although it’s probably the least likely of the options listed. Nick Sorensen is in his first season as the team’s defensive coordinator and the 49ers rank in the top 12 in both points allowed per game and yards allowed through five weeks, so San Francisco may want to let Sorensen prove himself rather than for the third time as a result, make a coordinator change (even if it involves a proven player like Saleh).

At the same time, Kyle Shanahan is still hoping to win his first Super Bowl, and he may be willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Could that mean bringing in Saleh as an assistant head coach to lead the defense alongside Sorensen? It shouldn’t be ruled out. Saleh also shouldn’t be brought in to replace Sorensen if San Francisco’s defensive performance declines over the course of the season.

Best team fits former Jets coach

ByJasper

Landing sites by Robert Saleh

Dallas Cowboys

New Orleans Saints

Jacksonville Jaguars

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers

By Jasper

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