Robert Saleh is a wanted man and has completed his first interview for a head-coaching vacancy.
The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday night that they had conducted an interview with the 49ers defensive coordinator.
Coach Kyle Shanahan revealed Sunday after the 49ers' season-ending loss to the Seattle Seahawks that he was pretty sure Saleh had an interview with the Falcons lined up for Monday. He was right.
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The Falcons are one of six teams in need of a head coach, along with the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers.
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General manager John Lynch told reporters Monday that the Falcons, Lions and Jaguars had formally requested permission to speak to Saleh. Atlanta wasted no time connecting with the 41-year-old.
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"I think Saleh will kill these interviews," Shanahan told reporters. "I think he’ll do a great job. But it’s just one person usually making these decisions in each place, so nothing’s ever guaranteed. So I wish him the best of luck in all this, and we’ll see how it goes."
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Saleh, a Dearborn, Mich. native, has fans in Motown. A group of Michigan lawmakers sent a letter to Lions ownership in December urging them to hire the Northern Michigan alum.
It's a matter of time before Saleh is hired away from the 49ers, and the team is bracing for his departure.