Robert Saleh may not have to wait long for his next head-coaching chance.
Saleh has emerged as a legitimate candidate for the Jaguars after being fired by the Jets last season, The Athletic reported.
The website noted that while it may feel out of “left field” there is some “real buzz” surrounding Saleh’s chances in Jacksonville.
The report speculates that the ex-Jet head coach seems to be benefitting from being fired by Woody Johnson early in the season, as the team went 2-3 with him this year before ending the season with interim coach Jeff Ulbrich on a 3-9 spiral.
Saleh has also interviewed with the Raiders for their opening, and if he does not snag a job as a head coach, a prior report by ESPN suggests that the 49ers are likely to bring Saleh back as their defensive coordinator.
The embarrassing end to the Jets season having a positive impact on Saleh’s candidacy is a bizarre change of fortune for the 44-year-old.
Even the losses he sustained this season don’t look too bad in hindsight, as his three defeats came against a mostly healthy 49ers team coming off a trip to the Super Bowl, a 14-win Vikings squad and a playoff-bound Broncos team.
He also led the Jets to the fifth and third-best defenses in DVOA in 2022 and 2023.
There is plenty of familiarity for Saleh in Jacksonville, as he spent three seasons as the Jaguars linebackers coach beginning in 2014.
Should Saleh get the job, he would take over a team that was the fourth worst in points per game allowed (25.6) and second worst in yards per play allowed (5.9).
Still, as the report notes, the Jaguars would have to choose Saleh with more popular candidates — Ben Johnson, Liam Coen and Bian Flores — still available at least for now.
Whoever gets the job in Jacksonville will be tasked with resurrecting the career of former No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence.
The former Clemson star took a major step back in 2024, throwing 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions before missing the final month of the season with a concussion.
Jacksonville went 4-13 and Doug Pederson was fired the day after the season.
Saleh’s offensive coordinator choice would be a critical hire as he never proved to be involved enough with the offense, as it was rated 29th in DVOA in 2022 and 32nd in 2023.