San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is expected to be a coveted candidate ahead of the 2026 head coaching cycle.
Saleh, who returned to San Francisco after a failed four-year stint as the head coach of the New York Jets, has done a phenomenal job with a banged-up 49ers defense this season that is missing two All-Pros in Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
In an interview with Josina Anderson, Saleh expressed his desire to receive a second chance as a head coach.
'It's no secret' Robert Saleh wants to be a head coach again
"Most of us -- I don’t know if every coach does -- but we all want to get to the top of our profession. But honestly, honestly, Jo, I’m just in this space right now where I’m solely focused on trying to do my best for the guys here," Saleh told Anderson on her podcast The Exhibit.
"It’s not a secret. We all want to be at the top of our profession and show that we can achieve greatness at the top of our profession, but—and I say this with great humility—my focus is here, and just trying our best to get to the playoffs and see if we can make some damage and host a Super Bowl here in our building."
Saleh's tenure with the Jets was a mixed bag, with some variables in his control and some not.
The current defensive coordinator put together a great defense in New York, but was never able to get the offense right.
Zach Wilson being a bust certainly didn't help matters, and after his handpicked offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur, was fired, he was saddled with Nathaniel Hackett thanks to his Aaron Rodgers connection.
If Saleh gets another chance as a head coach, it's safe to say he'll have learned a thing or two from his Jets tenure and will hopefully not make the same mistakes twice.
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