Richard Sherman thinks Robert Saleh ‘has to get the Detroit job’

After Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams, 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman gave a ton of credit to his defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh.

“You’ve got to give Robert Saleh an abundance of credit,” Sherman said. “You have to give him an unusual amount of credit, and I don’t think he’s getting enough credit not only here but in the league, in general.”

Saleh was one of the finalists for the head coaching job in Cleveland last year, and Sherman believes he’ll land a job this upcoming offseason.

“I expect him to be a head coach next year, because of what he’s able to do,” Sherman said. “He’s able to rally men. He’s a leader of men, and that goes a long way.”

Many have already connected the dots between the Detroit Lions’ coaching vacancy and Saleh, seeing as the 49ers defensive coordinator grew up in Dearborn, just minutes outside Detroit’s training facility. At this way-too-early point, Saleh is the Vegas favorite to land in Detroit.

Sherman agrees, as he told MMQB’s Albert Breer that this is a match that needs to happen in 2021.

“He has to get the Detroit job,” Sherman texted Breer on Sunday. “Homegrown. He’s a great leader of men. And he’s not stubborn. He doesn’t just think he has all the answers. He comes up with a great plan and evolves it with his players.”

Back in January, Sherman told The Athletic that he turned down a lucrative contract offer from the Lions in 2018 because he didn’t want to deal with the culture Matt Patricia was running in Detroit.

“ You want to do it the Patriots’ way and that’s really not the way I do football,” Sherman said. “I have fun. I like music at practice. I like to hang out and be relaxed in meetings. I don’t like the stressful environment in football.”

It’s clear Saleh would be a change of pace for the Detroit Lions culture and a welcome addition to certain players. It’s worth noting, too, that Richard Sherman’s three-year contract with the 49ers comes to an end after this season. Hmmmmm...