Former NY Jets HC Robert Saleh emerging as frontrunner for Jaguars job

When the NY Jets shockingly fired former head coach Robert Saleh in October of last year, many assumed that he would eventually receive another chance to be a head coach at the NFL level. Most didn't expect it to be just a few months later, however.

Saleh has an opportunity to go from being dismissed by the Jets to potentially leading a new team to success, a rare turn of events in the coaching world. It's not often you see a fired head coach almost immediately land a new job elsewhere.

That might become a reality, however, after Saleh was officially revealed as one of three known finalists for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coach job on Tuesday.

Saleh is expected to meet with the Jaguars in person for a second interview at some point this week. He joins Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham as the three known finalists for the position.

Robert Saleh could become new Jaguars HC months after NY Jets firing

The Jaguars were expected to be heavily in the mix for former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson before he ultimately was hired by the Chicago Bears on Monday.

Johnson's hesitancy likely came down to owner Shad Khan's decision to retain much-maligned general manager Trent Baalke. With Johnson out of the picture, many believe Saleh could be a legitimate frontrunner for the Jaguars job.

SNY's Connor Hughes reported on Monday that Saleh is "very, very respected" in the Jaguars building and that the Johnson hire increases the likelihood that he lands the Jacksonville job.

Just last week, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported there was "real buzz" surrounding Saleh as a strong contender for the Jaguars' head coaching position. That was before Ben Johnson was hired by the Bears and Saleh was officially named a finalist.

Saleh spent three years as the Jaguars' linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016 and is said to maintain strong connections within the organization.

His reputation has received a boost in recent months, largely due to the Jets' struggles under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. Ulbrich's disastrous coaching stint has made Saleh's tenure appear significantly better by comparison — or at least that's the perception across the league.

The belief is that Saleh and Coen are the two favorites for the job at this time. It's still possible the Jaguars roll with the offensive-minded Coen to pair with Trevor Lawrence, but Saleh is very much in the mix.

If Saleh is unable to land the Jaguars job (or the other head coach jobs he interviewed for), reports suggest he has the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator position lined up. He won't be out of work for long either way.

The Jets play the Jaguars on the road in 2025, setting the stage for a potential revenge game if Saleh does ultimately land the role.

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