Former NY Jets HC Robert Saleh lands in perfect spot to resurrect career

Former NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh wasted no time finding a new job this offseason. Saleh has been hired by the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator, returning to the role he held prior to becoming the Jets' head coach.

Saleh was in the running for multiple head coach jobs this offseason, interviewing with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys and garnering interest from other teams. He seemed like a legitimate candidate to land the Jaguars job before the Liam Coen situation unfolded on Thursday.

Instead, Saleh will return home to San Francisco where he will once again serve as Kyle Shanahan's defensive coordinator. It's a seamless fit for a coach who is still highly regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the sport.

The 49ers parted ways with defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen earlier this month after just one season, fueling speculation that Robert Saleh was their target all along. Now, they've secured their man, while Saleh finds himself in an ideal situation to rejuvenate his career.

Robert Saleh is perfectly set up for success in his post-NY Jets career

The Jets fired Saleh in October of last year following what was at the time seen as a disappointing 2-3 start to the season. The team had gone just 20-36 under Saleh and owner Woody Johnson believed making the switch to Jeff Ulbrich could provide a spark to his struggling team.

In reality, firing Saleh served as the catalyst for the Jets' downfall, as the team would win just three more games over the course of the rest of the season. A defense that ranked top-five in the NFL in most notable metrics under Saleh plummeted to one of the worst units in the league.

The Jets ranked sixth in defensive EPA through the first five weeks under Saleh, but after Ulbrich was named interim head coach, they plummeted to 30th in the league from Week 6 onward.

That stunning fall from grace combined with the Jets' overall dysfunction following Saleh's departure did a lot to bolster his image around the league, so much so that he was receiving genuine head coach interest.

In reality, however, a stint as defensive coordinator in San Francisco is likely the best-case scenario for Saleh in 2025. The Michigan native has the leadership ability, the personality, and the football mind to be a good head coach one day in the future.

Saleh showcased many of the qualities it takes to be a great NFL head coach during his time in New York, even if they were often overshadowed by his shortcomings. He's someone who could really benefit from time away as a coordinator again.

A temporary return to the assistant coaching ranks will not only provide a much-needed mental reset but also help further rehabilitate his reputation. Stepping into a familiar environment alongside an excellent coaching staff should create an ideal opportunity for success.

Robert Saleh is going to do very well for himself in San Francisco, and if all goes according to plan, he should receive another opportunity to be a head coach at the NFL level in the near future. For now, the 49ers are a perfect landing spot.

More NY Jets news and analysis: