Breeder: 49ers DC candidate Robert Saleh among favorites for Jaguars job

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Robert Saleh watch continues—at least in the Bay Area. The San Francisco 49ers are closely monitoring developments as the former New York Jets head coach interviews for head coaching opportunities around the NFL.

Saleh has already spoken with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders and is expected to interview with the Dallas Cowboys for their vacancy.

RELATED 49ers aim to make Robert Saleh the NFL’s highest paid DC

If Saleh doesn’t secure one of those positions, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan appears ready to welcome him back to Santa Clara. Saleh previously served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, and Shanahan reportedly remains eager for a reunion.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer isn’t discounting Saleh’s chances of landing the Jaguars job (h/t) Peter Panacy from Niner Noise for found). Saleh previously worked in Jacksonville as the linebackers coach before joining Shanahan’s staff in San Francisco, and the organization is reportedly happy with the coach.

Breer recently named Saleh and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as one of the favorites for the Jaguars’ head coaching job. Breer describes the situation as “fluid” and notes that the ultimate decision will likely lie with Jaguars owner Shad Khan rather than general manager Trent Baalke.

Interestingly, Baalke’s future with the team may depend on Khan’s choice of head coach.

“I think Shad Khan will hire a trainerand then map things out from there,” Breer explained in a recent mailbag article. “If it’s Ben Johnson, I’d guess Trent Baalke is gone. If it’s Robert Saleh, Baalke might end up staying’.

Breer’s comments suggest that Johnson, one of the top candidates in this hiring cycle, may only accept the job if Baalke is no longer involved. On the other hand, Saleh could be more open to working with the often controversial general manager.

“And I would probably call those two favorites,” Breer added. “I know the Jacksonville Jaguars as both. (There could be other candidates they feel just as strongly about.)”

Meanwhile, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows reports the 49ers are making a concerted effort to lure Saleh back to Santa Clara. According to Barrows, the team is willing to offer him a record-setting contract to make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive coordinator.

“I heard they already told Saleh, ‘We’re going to make you the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the entire country if you sign with us,'” Barrows revealed on a recent podcast. “And so now it’s just a matter of waiting for Saleh and he gets all the attention from the head coach.”