It's not hard to argue reuniting with defensive coordinator (and former New York Jets head coach) Robert Saleh was the best move the San Francisco 49ers made last offseason.
Amid all the injuries and infusion of rookie talent, Saleh has performed yeomanlike work in keeping the Niners defense respectable, and holding both the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles to a combined 32 points in Week 18 and the Wild Card round, respectively, is a testament to that.
But, as head coach Kyle Shanahan fully knows, Saleh is aiming to get back into the head-coaching ranks and will be a hot commodity this offseason, especially in light of the numerous jobs available.
Saleh will be choosy with any opportunity, of course. Coaches aren't typically given a third chance at being a head coach if they've flamed out in two prior spots, meaning the now-coordinator should be picky with his next destination.
But that hasn't stopped one head-coaching rumor from circling Saleh and making him depart San Francisco for the second time in his career.
ESPN rumor points Robert Saleh back in Raiders' direction
Saleh told reporters he's holding off on any of his scheduled interviews until after the 49ers' divisional-round bout against the Seattle Seahawks, which is a temporary reprieve only.
And that won't stop coach-needy teams from looking at his profile, perhaps eyeing what he's done in the postseason as further evidence of turning a franchise around.
Like the Las Vegas Raiders, who clearly need it.
In evaluating the coaching landscape entering the offseason, ESPN's Dan Graziano circled Vegas as the predicted 2026 employer for Saleh, having written:
"Saleh has been on Las Vegas' short list in the past, and his work in San Francisco this season has caught a lot of people's attention around the league. His Jets tenure didn't go great, but that's true of most people who coach there. It doesn't sound like teams will let his Jets tenure deter them from talking to him this time around.
Whoever gets this job must have a plan for offensive coordinator and the development of a young quarterback, likely Indiana's Fernando Mendoza. But Saleh is part of that Shanahan/McVay network and should have no trouble putting together an offensive staff. The Raiders were last in the NFL with 14.1 offensive points per game and 245.2 yards per game this season."
Las Vegas has been linked to Saleh already, even prior to the one-year disaster that was the brief Pete Carroll era out in the desert.
And while the Raiders aren't exactly known for coaching stability, the No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft to pair with plenty of cap space afford a juicy opportunity to rebuild one of the league's better-known franchises.
Also, as Graziano pointed out, Saleh should have no trouble prying away an offensive coordinating assistant to join him, perhaps even the ousted Miami Dolphins head coach, Mike McDaniel, with whom Saleh worked during his first Bay Area tenure.
Of course, Niners fans are eagerly hoping Saleh rebuffs any (or isn't hired for) any available job this offseason so he can continue his work with a budding and developing San Francisco defense.
At least for one more