Raiders News: Robert Saleh Reportedly Set to Interview for HC After Pierce Firing

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is scheduled to interview for the Las Vegas Raiders' vacant head coaching position, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones also reported the Raiders intend to speak with Saleh.

Florio added that Saleh will also interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coaching job on Tuesday.

The Raiders' head coaching post became available this week when they fired Antonio Pierce on the heels of a 4-13 season.

After a successful four-year run as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, the Jets hired Saleh as their head coach in 2021 in hopes that he could get them to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

That never happened, though, as New York went 20-36 under Saleh, leading to his firing after a 2-3 start in 2024.

Saleh was replaced by Jeff Ulbrich on an interim basis, but things didn't get any better after Saleh's departure, as the Jets went 3-9, giving them a 5-12 record overall.

After getting fired by the Jets, Saleh joined the Green Bay Packers as an offensive consultant, and helped get the Packers into the playoffs with an 11-6 record.

If the Raiders were to hire Saleh as head coach, he would face an uphill climb getting them back on track following three consecutive losing seasons.

Over the past 22 seasons, the Raiders have reached the playoffs only twice, and they lost in the AFC Wild Card Round both times.

Since releasing Derek Carr at the conclusion of the 2022 season, quarterback play has been a huge issue for the Raiders, as the veteran signings of Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew both fell flat.

Aidan O'Connell, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Purdue, has been the Raiders' best option under center during that stretch, but seems better served as a backup than a starter.

It wasn't long ago that the Raiders were positioned to possibly land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but Pierce led them to two wins over their final three games, meaning they will now pick sixth.

Since quarterback-needy teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants ahead of them, it is difficult to envision the Raiders landing a potential franchise quarterback in Colorado's Shedeur Sanders or Miami's Cam Ward.

That means Saleh or whoever lands the head coaching job in Vegas may have to make do with a patchwork quarterback situation for at least one more season.

While Saleh is in the mix for some head coaching jobs, he may have a quality fallback option in place.

NFL insider Josina Anderson reported this week that the 49ers are expected to make him an offer to return as defensive coordinator under head coach Kyle Shanahan if he does not get hired as a head coach.