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The day began with Jacksonville Jaguars presumed head coaching favorite in the clubhouse Liam Coen who runs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense, turning down Jags owner Shad Kahn and remaining in Tampa for less money and less power. Later in the day it was revealed Ben Johnson who went from super wiz offensive genius of the Detroit Lions to head coach of the Chicago Bears also had said no thanks to Jacksonville, despite former number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence begging to be mentored. Most offensive minds would like to have a piece of clay like Lawrence to mold, so what gives? Why no takers for a job that only has 32 slots available? Easy, the boss. Not Kahn, the owner, although that’s highly debatable, the guy shopping for the groceries that the head coach is supposed to turn into a tasty playoff masterpiece, Trent Baalke. Weeks ago when Baalke somehow survived black Monday, NFL people were shocked. Baalke had complied a 25-43 record and few building pieces for the future. However when candidates avoided Duval like Baalke avoids healthy players in the draft, Kahn knew it was time to move on. Coen’s rejection was reportedly the last straw.
So where does that leave former and many 49ers fans hope future defensive coordinator Robert Saleh? Saleh is scheduled to meet with the Jaguars on Friday for a second time about their head job. I was very confident with a less than ideal owner in Kahn, a shaky GM in Baalke and with already a strike against him in New York, Saleh would take the 49ers DC job and look for a better situation in the next 1-2 years. Is no GM in place better than Baalke on a last chance season? I don’t think it makes a lot of difference. Saleh won’t be blamed for the Jets debacle because owner Woody Johnson rots the team from the top down, he’ll mostly get a pass. Now though, Saleh has to be careful choosing his next head slot because it will likely be his last chance regardless. Most times in the NFL, it’s two strikes and you’re out. Without a GM in place, Saleh would be taking a chance he could work with a person he most likely won’t know or hasn’t worked with. That would be OK possibly if the Jags were a stable franchise and could be trusted to make the right hire. They aren’t. Early word is Jacksonville may reopen the head coaching search focusing on an offensive mind to work with Lawrence. They may not have a GM in place before they make the coaching hire. In sports and in life, it’s not great if your boss didn’t hire you. There is no investment to protect.
Saleh can do better. In the mean time, he can build back up his credibility running the 49ers defense, succeeding as he did before and gaining a better opportunity in what would likely be his final shot to run an NFL team.