On Monday, the surprising announcement came: Mike McCarthy was out as the Cowboys’ leader. Just 48 hours later, the first interview for the vacancy was made official, with former Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh being scheduled.
Along with the official interest in Saleh, the Cowboys sought permission to interview Seahawks coach Leslie Frazier, though he is not considered a serious contender.
Saleh, however, has been a hot commodity this offseason. The Jaguars and Raiders want to interview him for their top job, while his old team, the 49ers, want him back as defensive coordinator.
For a guy who was fired just months ago by New York, he sure isn’t being treated like a guy who failed as a head coach.
This is because many view Saleh as having received the short end of a bad stick with the Jets, while actually being a strong coach. This is precisely what makes him a serious contender in Dallas, and what makes us ask, will he become the next head coach of the Cowboys?
Defensive Master: Robert Saleh’s Pros
If there is one thing you cannot argue about Robert Saleh, it is his defensive prowess.
As the defensive coordinator in San Francisco, Saleh created the dominant defense that propelled Kyle Shanahan’s team to consistent success. His defense there finished in the top five in each of his final two seasons.
That dominant performance, and Super Bowl appearance, is what got him in the door with the Jets in the first place.
We’ll talk about the negatives of Saleh’s Jets tenure in a moment, but you can’t throw out the good with the bad. He made the defense there fantastic, no doubt about it.
The Jets finished second, third, and fourth in his final three seasons before being fired in October of this year. Simply put, it is hard to find somebody with such a proven track record of defensive success without a job.
If Dallas hired him as the next head coach, they’d be hiring a defensive mastermind that could bring the hard-nosed culture Cowboys fans have been dying for.
Losing In New York: Robert Saleh’s Downsides
As strong as Saleh’s defensive track record is, his head coaching record tells a different story.
During his tenure as head coach, he never made the playoffs and finished with a 20-36 record. Simply put, that’s bad, really bad.
Whether or not that was on him is a whole different can of worms, and one that is certainly worth debating, but the facts behind his time with the Jets are indisputable. He did not win enough to remain the head coach.
If you’re Dallas, and you just split ways with a coach who actually did a good bit of winning in the regular season, why would you switch to a coach with such a poor record?
After all, there is a reason so many NFL fans have clamored for Saleh to join their team as defensive coordinator, and not head coach.
It may be best for him to go back to his roots as a DC before continuing his run as the top dog, but that’s not what the Cowboys are interested in right now. They are looking at him as a head coach candidate, and their first one, might I add.
Dallas is clearly interested in Robert Saleh for a reason, but it is definitely not because of his time with the Jets.
The Bottom Line: Robert Saleh Is Solid
If you haven’t been paying close attention, the Cowboys list to fill the head coaching vacancy looks more like a Saturday Night Live skit than a serious search.
After hearing nonstop about names like Jason Witten, Deion Sanders, and Kellen Moore, Saleh acts like a breath of fresh air in this frenzy. He is perhaps the most sane candidate we have heard yet.
Would it be a perfect hire? Of course not, there are reasonable concerns that come with him. At the same time, however, we can acknowledge the significant advantages that Saleh brings.
We will know more about Dallas’ plans and preferences soon, but for now, Robert Saleh seems like the best option they are considering.