The Baltimore Ravens have moved on from head coach John Harbaugh, and his replacement might be on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff, at least one reporter believes so.
Baltimore fired Harbaugh after the Ravens narrowly failed to clinch the AFC North and a playoff spot in Week 18, but a missed field goal prevented them from doing so. As a result, the team is now looking for a new head coach who can get them over the hump in the AFC.
With the search underway, On SI’s Grant Cohn is urging the Ravens to consider 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
“I want to just do a little public service announcement for the good people in Baltimore, and tell them that the guy you should hire is the guy out here in Santa Clara, the defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh,” Cohn said in a video posted on X on Jan. 7.
“He would fit your culture perfectly. He would right the wrong that you guys committed when you let Mike Macdonald go. That’s rough. Shouldn’t have done that. Regret it, right? It’d be nice if you had him back, but you can’t. So the next best thing would be to get Robert Saleh.”
Robert Saleh Could Bring a Fellow 49ers Coach
While Saleh is a defensive coach, Cohn believes the 49ers coach would put together a solid offensive staff, potentially including a fellow coach from the Niners.
“I’m guessing he could bring Klay Kubiak with him as the offensive coordinator,” Cohn Added. “You know the Kubiaks; his father was the offensive coordinator for the Ravens in 2014, quite successful. I think that’d be better for Lamar Jackson: Get him under center, have him rolling right, rolling left, not zone read at 29 years old.
“It doesn’t seem like that’s working out so well anymore. I mean, unless you want him to keep pulling his hamstring, I’m just saying Robert Saleh to the Ravens makes too much sense.”
49ers DC Robert Saleh Is on Teams’ Radar for HC Role
Whether it’s the Ravens or another team, Saleh appears to be on the team’s radar for a potential head coaching job. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Jan. 3 that Saleh will be among the names that the New York Giants and Tennessee Titans intend to interview as the two franchises begin searching for a new head coach.
“… Each team has a list of 10 to 15 potential candidates, though not all are expected to make it to the interview stage,” Russini wrote. “In-person interviews can officially begin Jan. 19. Among the names expected to interview for one or both jobs next week: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
“Coordinators on playoff teams who are also expected to be in the mix include Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.”
Whether or not Saleh gets a head coaching job this cycle remains to be seen, but at the very least, teams have him on their radar as he looks to have a second opportunity at being a head coach after an unsuccessful stint with the New York Jets.
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