"I realized I didn't know anything," Saleh said.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll urged everyone on his staff to really understand themselves and what they wanted to be about – both as a human being and as a football coach. It's vital to carve out your own style rather than regurgitate someone else's philosophy. That's the only way to make an authentic connection with your players.

"The thing I learned in Seattle is that if you try to be someone else, if you try to steal from someone else and that's the way you live, then you're really not helping players," Saleh explained. "It's all fake. Therefore, you cannot be your best as a coach. You can teach so much greater when you're in tune with yourself."

Saleh had his trial run as a position coach in 2013. Norton Jr. took a two-week leave of absence after his father passed away midseason. Norton Jr. returned on gameday, but it was Saleh's job to get the linebackers prepared during the week. That experience gave him the confidence that he was ready for the next rung up the coaching ladder.

Bradley, who departed to be the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013, provided Saleh with that opportunity in 2014. He spent three seasons as the Jaguars linebackers coach until he came to another crossroad in 2017. Bradley had just been fired following Jacksonville's 3-13 record in 2016. Saleh got the axe as well.

Shanahan called and inquired about Saleh's interest in becoming the 49ers linebackers coach. Meanwhile, Bradley, who became the Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator, urged Saleh to join him in Southern California. Saleh went back to Shanahan and floated the idea of interviewing for defensive coordinator, a job that San Francisco was yet to fill. Although the two had kept in touch since their time together in Houston, Shanahan still didn't know much about Saleh as a coach. He'd heard good things, but was his former colleague ready to be an NFL coordinator?