49ers' Kyle Shanahan was “pretty shocked” that the Jets fired Robert Saleh

The first head coach of the 2024 season was fired.

Unfortunately, it's former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The New York Jets have relieved Saleh of his head coaching duties following a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The Jets are 2-3, so their situation isn't bleak.

This is what makes Saleh's dismissal extremely strange. If the Jets had started 0-5, then sure. There are certainly reasons to fire him. But at 2-3? There are Aaron Rodgers fingerprints all over it. Even Kyle Shanahan was “pretty shocked” when he heard the news.

“I texted him but I couldn’t talk to him. And yeah, I was pretty shocked,” Shanahan said. “It puts you off, especially when they're fighting for first place in the division this week and I think they're at the top of their game in defense and they're a pretty good team and have a chance to have a hell of a year. “So that” was quite surprising.”

Indeed. It was quite surprising. You'd think the Jets would have waited until they were out of the playoff race. It's not like their defense is the weak link. Your offense is the problem. Unfortunately, five weeks into the season, Saleh is wrongly suspended and ends his Jets' tenure with a record of 20-36.

With Saleh being a free agent, the door opens for him to return to the 49ers. However, he is reportedly not interested in taking on coaching duties for the rest of the year. So if he wants to return to the 49ers, it will have to happen after 2024.

This would mean Nick Sorensen is fired or takes a backseat. Either way, it's hard to see where Saleh would fit with the 49ers, and that's assuming he even wants to return. He will certainly be a sought-after candidate for defensive coordinator vacancies across the league

For Saleh, this could be a blessing in disguise. He no longer has to deal with the New York Jets clown show and brash Aaron Rodgers.