The San Francisco 49ers will have a close eye on the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching search, which may be taking a turn Wednesday.
Their top defensive coordinator candidate, Robert Saleh, is set for a second interview with the Jaguars later in the week. If Saleh gets a head coaching job, the 49ers would be at square one in their search for a new defensive coordinator. With coaches like Jeff Ulbrich off the board and Dennis Allen on track to come off the board soon, San Francisco wouldn’t have any of their reported preferred options remaining.
A report from Tampa Bay Times’s Rick Stroud brings some good news for the 49ers though.
Stroud reported the Buccaneers are bracing for their offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, to become the next head coach for the Jaguars. His second interview with Jacksonville is slated for Wednesday.
Perhaps Tampa Bay is just being cautious after hiring three OCs in the last three years. However, teams don’t typically brace for this level of impact unless they have some inkling the coach is at least part of the way out the door.
It’s worth noting Coen is the lone offensive coach of the three reported to be getting second interviews with the Jags. Saleh and Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham are the other two. With quarterback Trevor Lawrence and a handful of young offensive weapons already in place, it stands to reason the Jaguars would want to maximize that group.
The Bucs’ misfortune would be the 49ers’ gain since Saleh appears lined up to take the 49ers DC job if he doesn’t land a head coaching gig. He also had interviews lined up with the Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, but his name hasn’t been tied as heavily to those clubs as it has to the Jaguars.
Tampa Bay will be watching closely when Coen interviews again Wednesday. The 49ers will be, too.