The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, ending a three-plus year tenure that saw the Jets finish in the top-5 scoring defenses in each of the past two seasons. Though Saleh’s defenses probably weren’t actually top-5 defenses in those years, his defensive acumen kept New York in games that they’d normally lose by 20 points despite having the worst quarterback play in the NFL during his tenure.
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With the former 49ers defensive coordinator now a free agent, the Rams should be among the first teams to call about his availability to help a team this season. If Saleh is open for business, the Rams would be crazy to not check on his availability to join Sean McVay and help a 32nd-ranked passing defense that has struggled under Chris Shula.
Number one, Saleh has as much intel on the 49ers as any defensive coach in football, having spent 2017-2020 as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan. Prior to that, Saleh spent three years as a linebackers coach for Gus Bradley on the Jaguars, having followed him from the Seahawks when both worked under Pete Carroll from 2011-2013.
Having Saleh could help McVay finally beat Shanahan on a consistent basis, although he already did that once this season.
Number two, the Rams are 32nd in net yards per pass attempt allowed this season and they are struggling to generate any pressure without a blitz package. Could Saleh help there too?
Number three, it is very much like McVay to kick the tires on former head coaches, having previously hired coaches like Raheem Morris, Jay Gruden, and Wade Phillips. The Rams also have Mike LaFleur as their offensive coordinator, a person who was Saleh’s offensive coordinator for his first two years with the Jets.
As bad as things are on defense this season, hiring Robert Saleh, even as a consultant, couldn’t make it any worse.
