After being dismissed by the New York Jets in October, Robert Saleh’s path back to a head-coaching position could be emerging in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars are looking to replace fired Doug Pederson after a 4-13 season.
The Jaguars announced Tuesday that they have requested interviews with eight coaches, including the former Jets head coach.
Other candidates include Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who is rumored to be a candidate in New Orleans, as well as Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Liam Coen, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady, Philadelphia Eagles OC Kellen Moore, Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken and Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham.
Now a consultant in Green Bay, Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets, who are trying to snap the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons. The move marks the first time in owner Woody Johnson’s 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.
‘This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been ᴀssembled by the New York Jets,’ Johnson told reporters during a conference call after the firing. ‘I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today.
‘This change, the change that we made today – that I made – I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now.’
Robert Saleh’s path back to the NFL could be emerging in Jacksonville
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Johnson’s prediction ultimately proved incorrect. Just 2-3 at the time of Saleh’s firing, the Jets would lose all but three of their last 12 games under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as the offense finished the season ranking 24th in both points and yardage.
After success as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator for four seasons, Saleh replaced the fired Adam Gase in January 2021 after the Jets went 9-23 in his tenure.
Saleh, the son of Lebanese parents, was believed to be the first Muslim head coach in NFL history when the Jets hired him. He wore a patch of Lebanon’s flag on his left arm during the game in London on Sunday, something he also did at times last season. The NFL encouraged players and coaches to represent their heritage, but that didn’t stop some from speculating that the pin was somehow connected to Saleh’s dismissal.
Saleh’s tenure began with a major decision as he and since-fired GM Joe Douglas moved on from quarterback Sam Darnold – the No. 3 overall pick in 2018 – to draft Zach Wilson with the second overall pick in 2021.
In 2023, they brought in Aaron Rodgers, only for the Super Bowl winner to rupture his Achilles on the first series of the season. Wilson would struggle over the remainder of a disappointing season and things didn’t get much better for the Jets with Rodgers’ return in 2024.
