After conducting their first round of interviews, the Jets are beginning to narrow their list of candidates for their head-coaching vacancy.
New York has already done a number of virtual interviews, but the first candidate to do an in-person interview will be 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The Jets will fly Saleh in for a second interview on Tuesday, according to NFL Network. He completed his initial interview with Gang Green on Jan. 8.
Saleh is the first known finalist for the Jets job, but he isn’t the only one just yet. As NFL Network mentions, there will likely be other in-person interviews.
Saleh, known for his passion, got the most out of a 49ers defense that experienced significant injuries in 2020. His unit finished this past season fifth in yards allowed, fourth in passing yards allowed and seventh in rushing yards allowed.
The 41-year-old got his coaching start at the college ranks, surfacing as a defensive assistant at Michigan State, Central Michigan and Georgia. In 2005, he joined the Houston Texans as a defensive coaching intern. From there, he served as a defensive quality control coach and assistant linebackers coach between 2006-10. Saleh then moved over to Seattle, where he was the Seahawks’ defensive quality control coach from 2011-13. Saleh followed Gus Bradley to Jacksonville, where he was the Jaguars linebackers coach from 2014-16.