Ex-49ers DC Saleh joins NFC rival in unique role after Jets fire originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh foreshadowed his next NFL stop.
Saleh, who was fired by the New York Jets after a 2-3 start, was able to watch on Wednesday as the Green Bay Packers practiced ahead of Week 8.
Recently fired Jets coach Robert Saleh is at Packers practice. Long history between him and Matt LaFleur. Also worked with Jeff Hafley.
We’ll hear after LaFleur’s workout if he hired Saleh in some capacity.
That’s him standing on the other side watching the offense. pic.twitter.com/JjOFAv1iLa
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 23, 2024
It was not immediately clear if he was hired by the team, but after practice, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said Saleh will work with the Packers’ offensive unit to provide a defensive perspective.
“It’s a good opportunity for him and also to give us perspective on how teams might view us, how they might defend us,” LaFleur saidvia Packers ESPN reporter Rob Demovsky.
LaFleur added that Saleh won’t impact the defensive side of the ball, citing coordinator Jeff Hafley’s crucial work thus far.
LaFleur and Saleh were graduate assistants together at Central Michigan in 2004 and worked together with the Houston Texans in 2008 and 2009. LaFleur was also the best man at Saleh’s wedding.
Saleh, a defensive coach, will be part of a Packers team that currently ranks first in takeaways. The 5-2 Packers are also a very different story than the Jets team that Saleh was fired from.
New York, led by former Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, has yet to win in the post-Saleh era, losing two straight games to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers under interim Jeff Ulbrich.
The Packers visit the 2-5 Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8.
