The Oakland Press

Jets hire 49ers defensive coordinato­r Saleh as coach

- By Dennis Waszak Jr.

NEW YORK » The New York Jets were searching for a leader, someone who could bring a frustrated, playoffsta­rved franchise back to respectabi­lity.

They think they found their guy in Robert Saleh.

The Jets reached an agreement in principle with the popular and energetic San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinato­r Thursday night to hire him as their head coach. Saleh replaces Adam Gase, who was fired by on Jan. 3 after going 9-23 in two seasons.

The 41-year-old Saleh, believed to be the first Muslim head coach in NFL history, emerged as a favorite for the Jets job when he was brought in for a second — and this time, in-person — interview Tuesday night and those discussion­s extended into Wednesday. He was the first of the nine known candidates New York interviewe­d remotely to meet with chairman and CEO Christophe­r Johnson, team president Hymie Elhai and general manager Joe Douglas at its facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.

Saleh left the Jets and met with Philadelph­ia, which fired Doug Pederson on Monday. And New York also had an in-person meeting with Tennessee offensive coordinato­r Arthur Smith on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

After Smith left without a deal, New York had internal discussion­s and opted to hire Saleh.

“YESSS SIRRRRRRRR­RR,” an excited defensive tackle Quinnen Williams wrote on Twitter.

Saleh, recognized as an energetic leader who is well liked by his players, had been the 49ers’ defensive coordinato­r under Kyle Shanahan since 2017, overseeing San Francisco’s defense that ranked No. 2 overall on the way to the Super Bowl last season.

The 49ers ranked fifth in overall defense this season despite season-ending injuries to pass rushers Nick Bosa — the 2019 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year — and Dee Ford, as well as defensive linemen Solomon Thomas and Ezekiel Ansah. While San Francisco missed the playoffs, Saleh’s work with a banged-up and shorthande­d defense made him a popular candidate among the teams looking for a coach.

“The @nyjets got a great one!” 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman tweeted.

“Congrats to them!” Saleh, the son of Lebanese parents, is the the second minority coach to be hired by the Jets in the last six years and first since Todd Bowles, who is Black, in 2015. He’s the fourth active minority coach in the NFL, joining Miami’s Brian Flores, Washington’s Ron Rivera and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin.

Saleh, who first interviewe­d remotely with the Jets last Friday, also spoke with Detroit, Atlanta, Jacksonvil­le and the Los Angeles Chargers.

 ?? ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinato­r Robert Saleh is shown during a Sept. 13game against Arizona Cardinals, in Santa Clara, Calif.
ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinato­r Robert Saleh is shown during a Sept. 13game against Arizona Cardinals, in Santa Clara, Calif.

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