The waiting game is over, Robert Saleh is back in The Bay.
Saleh and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms for the former New York Jets head coach to return to as the team's defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Friday, per sources. The team later announced the news.
From 2017-2020, Saleh was 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's DC. He helped the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance during that span and constructed the defensive foundation for a club that would advance to the NFC Championship Game or better in three straight years following Saleh's departure to the New York Jets to become their head coach.
Saleh was fired in the middle of the Jets' 2024 campaign and seemed to be a logical choice to return to San Francisco after the 49ers decided not to retain Nick Sorensen as their DC. However, the 49ers have been forced to display a bit of patience as Saleh took head coaching interviews with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.
After Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen emerged as the Jags' leading candidate following a change of heart, Saleh's return path to San Francisco seemed to clear up.
He'll return to a San Francisco squad that finished 6-11 during an injury-plagued 2024 campaign with a defense that was 29th in points allowed.
However, the 49ers who will now have their fourth DC in as many seasons, are still loaded with defensive talent that includes defensive end Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
During Saleh's tenure with the 49ers, they became a top-five unit in yards allowed in each of his final two seasons. The Jets were a top-four defensive squad in yards allowed in Saleh's last two-plus campaigns for them.
Saleh's time in the NFL began with the Houston Texans back in 2005 as a defensive intern. He had long stretches in Houston, with the Seattle Seahawks and then the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining Shanahan in San Francisco.
It was a fruitful partnership that now begins anew with Saleh and the 49ers defense each looking to move forward from forgettable 2024 showings.
