Hawzah News Agency - The New York Jets have announced they reached an agreement in principle to hire Robert Saleh, setting him on the path to become the first Muslim head coach in American football history.

The team announced the yet-to-be-finalized agreement in a statement on Thursday.

Saleh had been the San Francisco 49ers defense coordinator for the past four seasons, overhauling the team's once unimpressive defense and turning it into a formidable behemoth.

"Congrats to Coach Saleh and his family. @nyjets you got a great coach and an even better person," 49ers kicker Robbie Gould said on Twitter.

Saleh was born in Dearborn, Michigan, a major hub of Arab-American life. He is of Lebanese descent.