The Arizona Cardinals could be zeroing in on their next coaching hire. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will have his second interview with the Cardinalsiin Arizona on Tuesday, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Pelissero notes that Saleh is currently interviewing with the Tennessee Titans. Should he leave Nashville without a deal, that opens up an opportunity for the Cardinals to swoop in.
All eyes will be on Saleh decides to head to Arizona. The Cardinals are considered one of the worst head coach situations, with questions at quarterback and a team coming off a 3-14 season. Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro tweeted if the head coaching candidate leaves Tennessee, it’s a good sign for the Cardinals. If he doesn’t, it will say a lot.
Robert Saleh’s Coaching Resume
The Cardinals should be familiar with Saleh’s work, as he was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 and 2025. He carries previous head coaching experience, spending four seasons with the New York Jets.
There wasn’t much success in New York, as they won no more than seven games under him. However, in 2022, the defense ranked fourth in points per game allowed. However, the inability to
Prior to his run with the Jets, Saleh was in his first stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. As the unit gained more talent, the team rose from 28th in points per game in 2018 to 8th in 2019.
Part of his defensive staff at the time included Demeco Ryans and Jeff Hafley, both of whom are head coaches. Ryans has spent three seasons leading the Houston Texans while Hafley was just recently hired by the Miami Dolphins.
Following his failed stint with the Jets, Saleh rejoined the 49ers as the defensive coordinator. Despite a rash of injuries to key players such as Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, San Francisco finished 13th in points per game. Due to his ability to keep the defense afloat despite those losses, Saleh is considered one of the top head coaching candidates in this cycle.
What Would Hiring Saleh Mean for the Cardinals
Hiring Saleh can be a situation where it both helps the Cardinals and hurts a division rival. Arizona’s head coaching candidates suggest that they very much want to improve their standings within the division.
It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals take on a more experienced head coach. The last coach with previous experience they hired was the late Dennis Green. Since then, they’ve gone with five consecutive first-time head coaches.
In his tenure with the Jets, Saleh worked with both Zach Wilson and Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback. Wilson was the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and Rodgers is likely Canton-bound.
It’s unclear which direction the Cardinals will go. With a second-time head coach, it’s much less likely the team will embark on a rebuild. Given team owner Michael Bidwill’s statements on Gannon’s firing, they’re looking for someone who instantly improves the team’s chances of winning. That likely means they’ll target a veteran in free agency or perhaps run it back with Kyler Murray instead.
It will also be interesting to see who he hires as the offensive coordinator. Klay Kubiak mans that role for the 49ers, although he’s also getting head coach considerations. Mick Lombardi, Brian Fleury, and Leonard Hankerson serve as the quarterbacks coach, run game coordinator, and pass game coordinator.
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