A day after The Athletic reported that the San Francisco 49ers were about to stage a reunion with Robert Saleh, the club announced Friday that the former New York Jets head coach is returning to his old job as defensive coordinator.
The 49ers tweeted, “ALL GAS, NO BRAKE. WELCOME HOME, ROBERT SALEH.”
Saleh led the Jets for three-plus seasons before a 2-3 start led to his firing in October. He posted a 20-36 record in New York, never guiding the team to the playoffs.
Saleh, 45, served as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator from 2017-20 — the beginning of current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tenure. San Francisco got to the Super Bowl following the 2019 season before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs.
After he was fired in New York, Saleh worked as a Green Bay Packers consultant late in the 2024 season.
The 49ers fired defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen this month after he was in the role only one season. San Francisco allowed the fourth-most points in the NFL this season, 25.6 points per game, despite allowing the eighth fewest yards per contest, 317.4.
Saleh began his career as assistant coach at Michigan State, Central Michigan and Georgia before arriving in the NFL as a defensive intern for the Texans in 2005. He stayed in Houston through 2010, then was part of the Seattle Seahawks’ staff (2011-13) and the Jacksonville Jaguars’ staff (2014-16).
The 49ers, who lost another Super Bowl to the Chiefs following the 2023 season, slipped to 6-11 and last place in the NFC West in 2024.
–Field Level Media
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