Nick Bosa is eager to see the 49ers keep Dre Greenlaw long-term, and he’s hopeful that the return of Robert Saleh could make that happen.
Bosa spoke with NBC Sports Bay Area at the Pro Bowl in Orlando, sharing his excitement about Saleh’s return as defensive coordinator and what that could mean for Greenlaw’s future.
“[Greenlaw] is going to do what’s best for him, and he should do that at this point in his career,” Bosa said. “Obviously, we want him back. I know Saleh is very adamant about that.”
This was Bosa’s first Pro Bowl appearance, though he’s been a five-time Pro Bowler. He traveled from his home in Fort Lauderdale for the event. The All-Pro defensive end believes Saleh’s return will positively affect the defense.
“It’s huge,” Bosa said. “Familiar face, a guy that I’ve missed. Kind of didn’t know how good we had it when he was there. He FaceTimed me recently, and it was just great to see him. He’s a great person and an awesome coach, so I’m excited.”
Saleh played a major role in building the 49ers’ tough, run-stopping defense, known for generating turnovers. Bosa shared how much he missed Saleh’s sideline energy the past two years and said that part of Saleh’s personality hasn’t changed.
“Super excited, fired up,” Bosa said. “The fire that you see on the sideline every game is what he was like on FaceTime.”
When asked about former defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen after the 2024 season, Bosa simply said, “He’s a good coach, but that’s not my decision.” A couple of days later, Sorensen was let go.
Bosa’s view of Saleh is much more positive. Bosa revealed that he knew head coach Kyle Shanahan’s first choice for the role before leaving for the offseason in Florida.
“Everyone loves him as a guy,” Bosa said of Saleh. “I know Kyle, I talked to him before I left, and he was excited to try to pursue him. I haven’t talked to Kyle, but I’m sure he’s resting easy.”
The 49ers still have a few more coaching spots to fill, but it seems one of the most important roles has the support of one of the team’s top players.
