Report: Robert Saleh Has 'Real Buzz' to Be Jaguars HC amid Raiders, 49ers Rumors

There's "real buzz" about former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh's chances to get the open Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching position, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.

"This one might feel like it's out of left field, but there's some real buzz about Saleh's chances of securing this job," Rosenblatt wrote.

"Saleh might have been helped by Jets owner Woody Johnson's decision to fire him in Week 5, especially because of what happened afterward. The Jets were significantly worse after interim coach Jeff Ulbrich took over, particularly on defense, where Saleh had built the Jets into one of the league's Top-5 defenses in both 2022 and '23."

Rosenblatt made those remarks amid a piece on the NFL's current five head coaching openings. He noted how things could transpire "based on conversations with sources from around the league" in addition on his own opinion on what teams could be pursuing.

He connected the Jaguars (who are looking for a new head coach after firing Doug Pederson) and Saleh, who the Jets fired on Oct. 8 after a 2-3 start. He went 20-36 in three-plus seasons as New York's head coach.

Interest is clearly high in Saleh's services. The Las Vegas Raiders also interviewed Saleh on Thursday, Jan. 16 for their head coaching gig, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He's also a candidate to become the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner, who said a reunion is "possible, if not likely."

Jacksonville announced Tuesday that it's completed an interview with Saleh.

Saleh, 45, began coaching in the NFL with the 2005 Houston Texans as a defensive intern. Nine years later, he joined the Jags as their linebackers coach, staying in Duval County for three seasons.

Saleh was the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2017-2020 before taking the Jets' head coaching gig.