On Thursday night, the New York Jets named San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh the 22nd head coach in franchise history. Saleh has spent sixteen years in the NFL, beginning in 2005 as the Texans’ defensive intern. A year later, he became the team’s defensive quality control coach for three seasons before spending the last two seasons as an Assistant Linebacker’s coach.
In 2011, Saleh left the Texans to become a defensive quality control coach with the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons, including winning Super Bowl XLVIII. In 2014, he was named linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars under Doug Marrone’s staff before leaving them after the 2016 season to become the new defensive coordinator for the 49ers.
The 41-year-old from Dearborn, MI, spent four seasons with the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan. In 2020, his defense was ranked fourth in pass yards allowed, sixth in per rushes allowed, and 21st in turnovers. His defense had 30 sacks, 68 QB hits, twelve interceptions with one of them returned for a touchdown, and twelve forced fumble recoveries.
In 2019, the 49ers’ defense finished second, allowing 281.8 yards per game. First, in passing defense, allowing 169.2 pass yards per game, and sixth in turnovers (27) when San Francisco played in Super Bowl LIV against the Kansas City Chiefs. Saleh earned The Sporting News Coordinator of the Year award.
With Saleh now at the helm along with GM Joe Douglas, the Jets will look to build a winning culture in New York. The Jets will have five draft picks total, including two first-rounders at number two and twenty-three, with $70 million in cap space.
