Robert Saleh and the San Francisco 49ers are coming back together, the team announced on Friday night after NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news.
Saleh was expected to be named the 49ers’ new defensive coordinator, as reported by The Athletic on Thursday. The move became official after the Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach. Saleh had interviewed for the Cowboys’ head coach position on January 18.
Saleh had previously managed the 49ers’ defense from 2017 to 2020 before becoming the head coach of the New York Jets. He was fired by the Jets after five games into this past season with a 2-3 record, following a 18-33 record over his previous three seasons.
Saleh was said to be considering an interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach job, but he didn’t travel to Jacksonville after reports suggested the Jaguars were focused on hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen for the role.
In 2019, during his third year as defensive coordinator, Saleh’s defense was ranked second in the NFL, allowing an average of 281.8 total yards and 169.2 passing yards per game. They also gave up the third-fewest points in the NFC. In his final year with the 49ers, the defense ranked fifth in the NFL.
This past season, the 49ers ranked eighth in total defense, allowing 317.4 yards per game under Nick Sorenson. However, they also allowed 436 points, which was the fourth-highest total in the NFL, and Sorenson was fired after the season.
In addition to Saleh, the 49ers publicly mentioned two other candidates for the defensive coordinator job: assistant head coach Brandon Staley, who was the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2021 to 2023, and Detroit Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.
