Niners Nation
How long will the 49ers be able to retain Saleh?
According to a report by Tom Pelissero, the San Francisco 49ers have officially hired Robert Saleh back as defensive coordinator. Saleh, who was fired as the New York Jets head coach this past season, will return to his old job as the Niners’ top defensive coach.
Saleh had interviewed for a trio of head coaching jobs this offseason and momentarily seemed like the favorite to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars. Still, after a surprising twist to hire Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen instead, it was clear Saleh would not receive an offer to become another team’s head coach. Saleh replaces Nick Sorensen.
Pelissero added that Saleh impressed during interviews and is poised to become a hot head coaching candidate after this season. That makes sense, given how dominant the 49ers were under Saleh’s watch.
It’s important to point out that the defense is much different. Nick Bosa is still around, as is Fred Warner. And while the 49ers are hopeful they can retain linebacker Dre Greenlaw, Saleh will walk into a locker room with plenty of different faces. That’ll be good for him.
Saleh inherited a defense that was in the upper echelon of the NFL but was on the opposite end of the spectrum at stopping the run. The 49ers won’t require any scheme change, as Saleh is the architect of this defense. If somebody out there can solve the run defense woes, it’s Saleh.
So, the 49ers replace Nick Sorensen with a more experienced coordinator who has not only been in the building but has a reputation for being one of the better minds in the sport. Plus, if he’s hired as a head coach again, the 49ers receive a compensatory pick for Saleh’s services.
The 49ers communications staff released some info about Saleh and what he’s accomplished during his coaching career:
Saleh, 45, returns to the 49ers after spending three-plus seasons (2021-24) as head coach of the New York Jets. During his time in New York, Saleh guided four different players in their first four years in the NFL to earn Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors (WR Braxton Berrios, CB Sauce Gardner & DL Quinnen Williams) and Pro Bowl appearances (Gardner, LB Jermaine Johnson II & Williams). The Jets defense excelled with Saleh at the helm, ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in multiple categories over the 2022 and 2023 seasons. During that span (2022-23), Saleh’s Jets ranked first in passing yards allowed per game (178.9) and opponent yards per play (4.7), second in total defense (301.7) and sixth in opponent yards per rush (4.1). The unit also tallied 93 sacks and 29 interceptions during that time, tied for the eighth and 10th-most, respectively, in the NFL. In 2022, Saleh was responsible for the development of the NFL’s Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year in WR Garrett Wilson and Gardner, making the Jets the third team in NFL history to have both rookie players...
