Robert Saleh has second interview with Jaguars head coach – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

A reunion between the 49ers and their former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh seems increasingly unlikely.

The former New York Jets coach has a second interview scheduled for Friday for the Jacksonville Jaguars head coaching job, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday, citing sources.

Former #Jets Head coach Robert Saleh has a second interview with the #Jaguars scheduled for Friday, according to sources.

Saleh did well in the first interview and can be seen longer. pic.twitter.com/PlbsdjAfah

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 20, 2025

After relieving first-year coordinator Nick Sorensen of his duties, the 49ers interviewed Saleh on January 9 for their vacancy in D.C. The 45-year-old held the role for the first four seasons of Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as head coach from 2017 to 2020 before leaving to coach the Jets, and New York fired Saleh at the start of the 2024 NFL season after a 2: 3 start.

Although it is widely assumed that Saleh would be San Francisco’s first choice, the 49ers also interviewed Deshea Townsend, the Detroit Lions’ defensive passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach, for their opening in D.C. In addition to the Jaguars, Saleh has also spoken to the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys about head coaching vacancies.

Despite an inconsistent tenure with the Jets, Saleh built New York’s defense into one of the NFL’s best during his time there – and the 49ers Faithful is well-versed in his success as a DC in the Bay. The 49ers returned to the NFL playoffs in the 2019 season for the first time since their 2013 season, led by a rock-solid defense with Saleh at the helm.

But whether Saleh returns to repeat that success with the 49ers remains to be seen — and certainly depends on how well his second Jaguars interview goes.

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