CLEVELAND — Apparently, the Cleveland Browns' head coaching search won't only be limited to offensive-minded candidates.
After reportedly putting in requests to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Browns have also requested to interview San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for their head coaching vacancy, according to to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
A 40-year-old native of Dearborn, Michigan, Saleh is considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks who could attract interest from multiple teams in their head coaching searches this offseason. Since 2017, Saleh has served as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers, where he helped engineer a unit that ranked second in total defense, first in passing and eighth in scoring in 2019.
With the 49ers having secured the top seed in the NFC Playoffs -- and thus, a bye week in this weekend's Wild Card round -- the Browns won't have to wait to interview Saleh, should San Francisco grant them permission for the interview. The same could be said of Roman, whose Ravens will also be off this week, while an interview with McDaniels likely won't occur until the Patriots' playoff run comes to an end.
On Sunday, the Browns announced the firing of head coach Freddie Kitchens, who amassed a 6-10 record in his first and only season in Cleveland.