Robert Saleh has potential edge over other candidates for Jaguars coaching job

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen appears to be the favorite to become the next head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, he isn't the only viable option for the opening.

The Jags already placed requests for interviews with prospective candidates for the job after dismissing Doug Pederson. All of them are intriguing options, including Robert Saleh, who may have a leg up.

Update: Albert Breer of Sports illustrated broke the news that Saleh will interview for the Jaguars' opening on Tuesday.

Saleh became the head coach of the New York Jets in 2022 after a successful stint as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. Before landing in the Bay area, he was the Jaguars linebacker coach from 2014-2016.

During his stint in Duval, Saleh helped Telvin Smith turn into a Pro Bowl linebacker. Similarly, he oversaw Myles Jack's early development, but his work as a position coach with the Jags isn't the only reason his candidacy to become Pederson's replacement is gaining traction.

Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL says that Saleh is "the one who got away" for Shad Khan when he left in 2017.

On the other hand, Mike Garafolo of NFL Media praises the Jaguars for putting in a request for Saleh, pointing out that the Jets' performance after they fired him should strengthen his case as a head-coaching candidate.

New York fired Saleh after a slow start to the 2024 season. However, they didn't get much better after giving him the boot, finishing 3-9 with interim Jeff Ulbrich at the end.

It's worth noting that one of the reasons Saleh was given his walking papers was that he couldn't find a long-term answer behind center.

In his defense, he never picked his guy and had to work with the likes of Zach Wilson, Mike White, and Aaron Rodgers. Perhaps if he had had a bigger input, he would've found a quarterback that could propel the Jets to the postseason.

Why the Jaguars must consider Robert Saleh for their coaching opening

The Jacksonville Jaguars will likely prioritize looking for someone who can get the most out of Trevor Lawrence. That's why candidates with an offensive background such as Ben Johnson and Liam Coen seem to be the favorites. That said, Robert Saleh will be an appealing option too.

During his stint with the New York Jets, Saleh had one of the best defenses in the league and developed cornerback Sauce Gardner, defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, and Pro Bowl nod Quincy Williams, who began his NFL career with the Jags.

The Jaguars could certainly use Saleh when you take into account that their defense has had plenty of talent but underachieved the past two years. With him leading the way, cornerback Tyson Campbell, defensive end Travon Walker, and even linebacker Ventrell Miller could take their game to the next level. On top of that, he wouldn't have to worry about the quarterback position because of the presence of Trevor Lawrence.

The only thing Saleh would need to worry about would be having a plan for Lawrence. Maybe he could bring in right-hand man Mike LaFleur, who was his offensive coordinator in 2021-2022.

Now, the Jaguars just started their coaching search, and it will probably be an arduous process with a handful of turns. Having said that, Robert Saleh probably has a realistic chance of getting the job.

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