Jets Hire Their New Head Coach
The New York Jets have found their man. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter is reporting that the Jets have reached a five year agreement with former San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh. Saleh was on just about every team with a head coaching vacancies short list and one of two coaches the Jets met with in person. The only other in person interview was with Tennessee Titans Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith.
The write up pertaining to Saleh on the Jets website after his second interview made a pretty clear case as to why Saleh was on Gang Green's short list to replace Adam Gase:
Saleh, 41, has coached in the NFL for 16 seasons and has been the 49ers' DC since 2017. Despite injuries to key players, such as DL Nick Bosa and CB Richard Sherman in the 2020 season, his defense ranked in the top five in the NFL in yards per game (314.3), passing yards per game (207.9) and third-down (35.5%). His unit also ranked in the top 10 in rushing yards per game (106.4) and red zone TDs (57.8%).
In 2019, Saleh was named Coordinator of the Year by The Sporting News after leading the NFL's No. 2 defense in total yards (281.8), the fewest by the team since 1997. San Francisco also led the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (169.2), the fewest in the league since the Jets in 2009 (153.7). Saleh helped develop rookie DL Nick Bosa, who won the _Associated Press _Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The 49ers were the only team in the NFL to have at least four players with at least 6.5 sacks in 2019 (Bosa, Arik Armstead, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford).
Robert Saleh becomes the 19th coach of the New York Jets and first hired by GM Joe Douglas. I honestly love this hire. Saleh is known as a "Leader of Men" who will lead the entire team not just his side of the ball like Adam Gase. Reports have Saleh bringing 49ers passing game coordinator to the Jets as the offensive coordinator.
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