AFC East news: Jets hire Robert Saleh, not Brian Daboll, as next head coach

The New York Jets hired 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as next head coach.

49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

We’ve got a mixed bag of goodies in this one.

First and foremost, the Buffalo Bills have a new head coach they’ll be facing twice a year via their AFC East rivals, the New York Jets. His name is not Brian Daboll as well.

The Jets hired San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, signing him to a five-year deal on Thursday. The Jets were one of two teams that interviewed Daboll for their recent head coaching vacancy.

Saleh received heavy interest on the head-coaching free agent market, but Jets general manager Joe Douglas made sure to seal the deal following their first in-person meet and greet. The two sides met twice early this week and then Saleh also met with the Los Angeles Chargers for a second time this week. Evidently New York wanted to lock him up quickly.

Speaking of the Chargers, that is the other team that has already interviewed Daboll. So far only two teams have done so, and now one is off the market meaning the Bills’ changes of keeping their offensive coordinator have now increase, but we’re still not in the home stretch.

On Saleh, he has run a stout defense in San Francisco. Even with injuries to multiple stars, the 49ers still finished the 2020 season fifth in yards allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed and seventh in rushing yards allowed. They did, however, allow 24.4 points per game, 17th in the NFL.

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