After 48 hours of rumors and suggestions and wish lists of head coaching candidates and even tales of casual phone chats about the job, the Dallas Cowboys may be ready to sit down and have a formal interview with someone.

But it’s not one of the usual suspects that most within Cowboys Nation have been talking about.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Cowboys “have interest in and are expected to interview” Robert Saleh to be the team’s tenth head coach. The insider cited a source in a social media post Wednesday morning.

Saleh, 45, is best known as the former head coach of the New York Jets, where his teams posted a 20-36 record over three-plus seasons starting in 2021. He was fired just five games into the 2024 season after a 2-3 start. He finished out the year in a consultancy role for Packers head coach Matt LaFleur.

Saleh began his NFL career as an intern with the Texans in 2005, eventually rising up the ranks to become the team’s assistant linebackers coach in 2009 and 2010. Pete Carroll hired him away to Seattle in 2011; he spent three seasons with the Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach, winning a Super Bowl ring with the Legion of Boom.

That led to a move to Jacksonville, where he served as linebackers coach for three seasons. Four years in San Francisco as the defensive coordinator followed, with the 49ers making it to Super Bowl LIV during his tenure.

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With experience under both Kyle Shanahan and the aforementioned Carroll, Saleh comes with a quality NFL pedigree. He’s served on staffs alongside the likes of Bobby Slowik, Mike McDaniel, DeMeco Ryans, Dave Canales, Darrell Bevell, Kris Richard, Gus Bradley, and Dan Quinn. He’s earned a reputation as a defensive-minded coach who can be fiery on the sideline but measured and thoughtful at the podium.

Saleh has interviewed already with the Raiders and is considered perhaps the frontrunner for a second stint as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. He’s also been identified as “a legitimate candidate” to return to Jacksonville for the Jaguars’ head coaching vacancy.

Now it appears he may get the opportunity to see if he’s a good fit in Dallas.