© Chuck Cook | 2019 Dec 8
As the leader of one of the best defenses in the NFL, we all knew 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was going to get some attention this offseason. Turns out, it took just one day for that attention to become public.
The Cleveland Browns have requested to interview Saleh for their now vacant head coaching position, after firing Freddie Kitchens following Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals that saw the Browns finish what was supposed to be a Super Bowl contending season with a 6-10 record. ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report.
Saleh’s defense finished the season ranked second in defensive efficiency, allowed the second fewest yards and the fewest through the air in 2019. Saleh’s ascension as an attractive head coaching candidate comes a year after questions swirled about his job status after the 49ers defense finished in the bottom third of defensive efficiency in both 2017 and 2018.
The Giants’ Pat Shurmer was the other head coach to be fired following the conclusion of Sunday’s games, though a handful of other names, notably the Cowboys’ Jason Garrett, remain on the hot seat.