Robert Saleh emerges as Cowboys' coaching candidate with latest news and there are major implications
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly interested in Robert Saleh for their head coaching vacancy, per Ian Rapoport from NFL Network. An interview is expected to take place. The former New York Jets head coach was fired halfway through the 2024 NFL season and is considered one of the top defensive minds available in this year's coaching […]
The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly interested in Robert Saleh for their head coaching vacancy, per Ian Rapoport from NFL Network. An interview is expected to take place.
The former New York Jets head coach was fired halfway through the 2024 NFL season and is considered one of the top defensive minds available in this year's coaching cycle.
Saleh has received interview requests from multiple NFL teams both for defensive coordinator jobs and head coaching jobs. The Cowboys could be interested in Saleh for either of their two openings.
If the Cowboys were to hire Saleh as their future coach, it would have three major implications, which I've listed below.
1. Mike Zimmer would be out as defensive coordinator
Zimmer is reportedly considering all options regarding his future and that includes retirement. His deal with the Cowboys has expired and bringing in a defensive-minded head coach in all likelihood means parting ways with Zimmer officially, unless Dallas does the same dance it did when bringing in Mike McCarthy in 2020 under the condition Kellen Moore remained onboard as the offensive coordinator.
Naturally, it's hard to visualize Saleh or Zimmer being okay with such a setup.
2. Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay style of offense could get to Dallas
Though Saleh is highly regarded for his defenses in San Francisco and New York, one of the most attractive things about his profile is that he comes from the Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay coaching tree, which has dominated the NFL in recent years.
Bringing in Saleh could mean he'd bring an offensive coordinator from that scheme, which would be exciting for the Cowboys.
3. Saleh has worked with an involved owner before
In the week that Troy Aikman said on national TV that the Cowboys aren't a coveted job because of the way ownership is involved, this appears relevant. Saleh is coming from the Jets, where owner Woody Johnson is also heavily involved in football decisions, plenty of times to a fault.
If Saleh learned how to handle such an organization, it might be an edge for him in getting the job.
Gut reaction: Personally, there are multiple coaches I'd prefer over Saleh, whose head coaching tenure didn't go great with the Jets, albeit in a dysfunctional situation. However, out of the candidates that I'd expect the Cowboys to look into, he's one of the best options.
With Micah Parsons, DaRon Bland, Marist Liufau, DeMarvion Overshown, among other players on defense, going for a defensive mind in this search doesn't sound like the worst idea of all.
