San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was a guest on this week’s episode of The Adam Schefter Podcast. He discussed adjusting to life in Arizona away from his family, going through the head coaching interview process last offseason, his evolution as a coach, and the rumors about his coaching future.
Saleh, of course, is getting a lot of buzz as an NFL head coaching candidate. Just last offseason he was one of the top two candidates for the Cleveland Browns head coaching position before the team went with Kevin Stefanski instead. A Michigan native, many have identified the Detroit Lions vacancy as an obvious landing spot for the 49ers’ DC. In fact, some members of the Michigan legislature penned a letter to Lions ownership endorsing a Saleh hiring.
Schefter asked Saleh if coaching in his home state would mean more to him if he could get the opportunity. However, still in the throes of the NFL season, Saleh said he has not thought much about any job openings.
“I really haven’t taken the time to think about it,” he said. “I just haven’t had time to digest that [the Lions job is available]. I know my family is uber excited. I know my friends in high school, they’re blowing my phone up everyday and they’re super excited, but I am not lying to anybody when I say that it would be irresponsible of me to think about it when there’s an organization that’s counting on every person who’s involved… I really haven’t had time to reflect on any of the job openings or any of the possibilities moving forward.”
The 49ers have been fortunate to keep their coaching staff together over the last couple seasons, but big changes could be coming in 2021 if Saleh leaves and takes some San Francisco assistants with him.