Former Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh Returning to 49ers as Defensive Coordinator
Robert Saleh, who served as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 under head coach Kyle Shanahan, is reportedly returning to the team in the same role, according to The Athletic. Saleh was Shanahan’s original choice for the position and helped lead the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV during the 2019 season before taking on the head coaching job with the New York Jets in 2021.
Saleh’s coaching career recently came full circle. After being dismissed as Jets head coach in Week 5 of the 2024 season, he explored other opportunities, including head coaching interviews with the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville, however, shifted focus to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen following the dismissal of general manager Trent Baalke. Rather than waiting for an official decision, Saleh chose to return to the 49ers, where his NFL coaching trajectory began to soar.
Saleh’s tenure with the Jets yielded a 20-36 record over nearly four seasons, but the struggles primarily stemmed from offensive issues rather than the defense. After inheriting the league’s worst defensive unit in 2021, Saleh transformed the squad into a top-five defense in each of his last three seasons. Unfortunately, the Jets’ offensive woes, including the failure of quarterback Zach Wilson (the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft) and Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury in Week 1 of the 2023 season, overshadowed Saleh’s defensive successes.
In 2024, before Saleh’s departure, the Jets boasted a top-five defense across several key metrics. However, following his firing, the unit’s performance declined sharply.
Shanahan’s decision to bring Saleh back underscores the strong rapport between the two and the significant impact Saleh had on the 49ers’ defensive identity during his first stint. His return is seen as a reunion that could reinvigorate San Francisco’s defensive dominance as the team eyes another deep playoff run.
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