Saleh agrees to reported 5-year deal to become Jets HC
The New York Jets have found their new head coach.
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has agreed in principle to become the Jets' next sideline boss.
The deal will run for five years, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Saleh is expected to take 49ers passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur to the Jets as his offensive coordinator, Schefter reports.
San Francisco will likely promote linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans as its new defensive coordinator, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Saleh spent the past four seasons as the 49ers' defensive coordinator, helping them improve from the NFL's worst-ranked defense in 2016 to one of the league's best units. The 41-year-old was a key part of San Francisco's Super Bowl LIV run, as the team allowed fewer than 20 points per game that season.
However, the 49ers ranked 17th in the NFL after allowing 24.4 points per contest this past campaign while numerous key defenders battled serious injuries.
Several Jets players reacted to the Saleh hiring, including defensive lineman Quinnen Williams.
YESSS SIRRRRRRRRRR 🙏🏾💪🏾🔥 https://t.co/lEJcWsbHOY
— Quinnen Williams (@QuinnenWilliams) January 15, 2021
The Jets fired head coach Adam Gase earlier this month after he posted a 2-14 record this past season.
Saleh will have the second overall pick in the 2021 draft and plenty of important roster decisions to make. New York's quarterback situation, in particular, remains uncertain after another disappointing campaign by Sam Darnold.
Arthur Smith and Brian Daboll, who served as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills, respectively, also generated strong interest from the Jets.