Story by
Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates: Who is former NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh?
- Story by
- Jacksonville Jaguars coaching candidates: Who is former NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh?
The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting the ball rolling on interview requests for their vacant head coaching position.
The team announced requests with multiple candidates, including Green Bay Packers offensive consultant and former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
Advertisement
Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Doug Pederson Monday morning, announcing that he and general manager Trent Baalke , among others within the team, will lead the search for the team's next coach.
"I will collaborate with General Manager Trent Baalke and others, within and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville," Khan said in a statement on Monday.
WHO ELSE? Jaguars coaching candidates: Who is Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson?
Bringing in a coach with head coaching experience isn't surprising. The Jaguars lacked identity and lost culturally at times during the final season under Pederson. Saleh is a bright defensive mind that took the Jets to new heights, at least on that side of the football, while he was the team's head coach from 2021-24.
Advertisement
Under Saleh's guidance, he took the Jets from the 32nd-ranked defense by points in 2021 to the fourth, third and third-ranked defense in subsequent years.
Saleh, 45, was fired after five games into the 2024 season. He finished his tenure with New York with a 20-36 overall record.
Saleh has since joined the Packers as an offensive consultant, hoping with the offensive gameplan in a "fluid" role , as explained by Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
When can the Jaguars interview Robert Saleh?
Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New York Jets coach Robert Saleh reacts against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As Saleh is on the Packers' staff at the moment, he cannot interview virtually with the Jaguars until three days after the conclusion of the Saturday/Sunday Wild Card Weekend games as the Packers are set to take on the Eagles on Sunday.
Advertisement
Trent Baalke stays: Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan defends keeping GM, firing coach
That means Jacksonville will be able to virtually interview Saleh on Wednesday, Jan. 15. The interview must happen before the end of the divisional-round games
What is Robert Saleh's coaching history?
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 22: Geno Hayes #55 and J.T. Thomas #52 of the Jacksonville Jaguars talk with the linebacker coach Robert Saleh during the preseason game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on August 22, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions defeated the Jaguars 13-12. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Saleh began his career in the NFL as a defensive intern with the Houston Texans in 2005. He was promoted twice to defensive quality control coach (2006-08) and assistant linebackers coach (2009-10) before moving on to the Seattle Seahawks as the team's defensive quality control coach (2011-13) under former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
Advertisement
Saleh then moved on, joining former Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley in Jacksonville as the team's linebackers coach (2014-16). Saleh left after Bradley was let go at the end of the 2016 season, joining the San Francisco 49ers as the team's defensive coordinator (2017-20) before finally becoming the Jets' head coach in 2021.
What are the Jaguars looking for in their next head coach? When will they make a hire?
Khan laid out what the team needs in a new head coach on Monday during his and Baalke's joint press conference with the local media.
Khan spoke about a variety of topics, including the team's coaching regression from previous years. He spoke about the team's need for deception, calling both sides of the football "predictable."
Advertisement
When asked specifically what he is looking for in a new head coach, Khan led off with wanting the coach to "win," and represent the city well.
"I think we want him to represent the city and the team, obviously, well. We want him to win. Right now, we are the most predictable team on both sides of the ball. Football, to win, deception is a big part of it. Unpredictability," said Khan.
"If you know exactly what we're going to do on offense or defense, you'd better have the 22 best players to help us win a football game. So, being unpredictable is I think modern football, and we have to be able to show that on the field."
Baalke said during the presser that the team will do their due diligence to get the right coach.
Advertisement
"We're going to move quickly to get some people lined up to talk to. How long that process takes? I think Shad mentioned, it's going to take as long as it takes to identify the right individual. Is that one interview, is that two interviews? I think we're going to do our due diligence and be very thorough in this process," said Baalke.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius .
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, please consider becoming a subscriber to support local journalism in Northeast Florida .
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars to interview former Jets HC Robert Saleh. Here's what to know.
