Robert Saleh’s one demand if the Cardinals want him to be head coach in 2026

Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh walks off of the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

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GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals completed their interview with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh late Thursday, as the franchise gets closer to hiring their next head coach in 2026. Saleh is reportedly the top choice for Arizona, with his head coach experience and being a defensive mastermind. Since the interview, NFL Network Mike Garafolo has stated that one of the demands for Saleh is that he wants to call the defense at his next head coaching job.

Can Cardinals guarantee demand?

The reasoning for the explicit request is because at Saleh’s first head coaching job with the New York Jets, he wasn’t the defensive play caller. Garafolo reports that Saleh felt disconnected to the unit and feels like it was a mistake in the first place. The 46-year-old has had resurgence in San Francisco this season, inheriting the 29th scoring defense in 2024 and turning them in the 13th best a year later.

In 2025, the Cardinals were 29th in points allowed, an identical scenario that Saleh could turn around again. Arizona’s defense does have talented pieces and players, but injuries derailed their entire second half of the season. If Saleh gets his wish, which he should, the franchise should see immediate success just from the defensive play calling of their potential next head coach.

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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports