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Robert Saleh and four other under-the-radar HC candidates to watch out for
San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Robert Saleh and four other under-the-radar NFL head-coaching candidates to watch out for

All eyes are on where ex-Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will get his next job. Once that domino falls, ex-Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski will likely go next. 

But eight head-coaching jobs are open so far, meaning more candidates will be interviewed in the coming weeks. Here are five candidates flying under the radar who could earn a promotion.

San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh

A year after his tumultuous four-year tenure as head coach of the New York Jets ended in a mid-season firing, Saleh's stock is back on the rise. On wild-card weekend, the 46-year-old guided a defensive unit missing key players to a 23-19 upset victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

According to NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo, five teams have requested to interview Saleh, and the Ravens are reportedly interested as well. Saleh could have a second chance to show why the Jets believed in him in the first place, and maybe being away from the Jets will give him a better chance to succeed.

Kansas City Chiefs OC Matt Nagy

Despite being the author of the 21st-ranked offense based on points per game (21.3), Nagy is surprisingly getting attention for the head-coaching vacancies. The most surprising team to interview Nagy, so far, is the Ravens. 

After quarterback Lamar Jackson reportedly had a falling out with Harbaugh, it's hard to see how he would gel with the former Chicago Bears head coach, who has a 34-31 record. Still, while Nagy may not be anyone's top candidate, there's only one Harbaugh and one Stefanski to go around. 

Los Angeles Rams DC Chris Shula 

The previous belle of the ball before Stefanski and Harbaugh joined the ranks of the unemployed, Shula is still a top candidate to watch. This season, the Rams' defense allowed an average of 20.4 points per game, ranking 10th in the league. The 39-year-old is also part of the much-vaunted Sean McVay coaching tree. 

Shula is also the grandson of Don Shula, the winningest head coach in football history (328). The NFL loves a good legacy hire, and the Shula name will certainly carry weight in every interview he takes.

Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores 

While Flores' time as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins ended with a 24-25 record, he has since shown the league why he's one of the most coveted defensive minds. This season, Flores' defense allowed 19.6 points per game, ranking seventh in the league.

Flores has been linked to the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator job, however. Presumably, Flores would become one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL, assuming team owner Jerry Jones' promise to bust the budget this offseason isn't hollow. Still, Flores would likely rather lead an entire team again.

Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak

The Seahawks became the No. 1 seed in the NFC thanks in large part to their league-leading defense, but Kubiak's offense maximized the team's offensive playmakers. Kubiak's offense scored the third most total points (483) and averaged the third most points per game (28.4).

Kubiak is also another candidate with a last name NFL owners will love. His father, Gary Kubiak, was a renowned offensive coordinator himself and won Super Bowl 50 as head coach of the Denver Broncos. The younger Kubiak could get his chance to build his own head-coaching legacy next season. 

Conor Killmurray

Conor Killmurray is a long-suffering fan of New York sports, particularly the Giants and Mets—a potent combination for heartbreak, if you ask him. He graduated from West Chester University with a degree in English and enjoys searching for the most interesting sports stories to write about.

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