Robert Saleh's return to San Francisco is an under-discussed plotline in the NFC West.
During his media rounds this week, 49ers tight end George Kittle was asked about the DC returning to the fold.
"Violence is coming is what I would say," Kittle responded on The Rich Eisen Show, via Niners Nation.
Saleh helped build the 49ers' defense into a force in the early years of Kyle Shanahan's tenure before taking the New York Jets' head coaching gig in 2021. DeMeco Ryans took over and kept the ship running for two years, but the job has been unsettled the past two seasons, with Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen each taking a campaign.
Saleh's run in New York might have been a failure, but his defenses were still excellent, ranking in the top 5 in yards allowed in 2022 and 2023. His defenses in San Francisco and New York were characterized by frenzied pressure and players flying all over the field. That energy is something the Niners are looking to inject back into the D.
"He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again," Kittle said. "He knows what he's talking about, he's inspiring, he gets the boys fired up, and he just happens to also be really, really smart. So, I'm pumped to have him back in the building, just hanging out with him a little bit, talking about stuff. You can just tell he's ready to roll this year, and he's gonna get the boys fired up."
The Niners' offseason turnover has primarily affected the defense, with youngsters expected to step into key roles immediately. Rookie defensive linemen Alfred Collins and Mykel Williams are expected to start, linebacker Nick Martin could earn a big role, as could first-year corner Upton Stout. Saleh's presence in San Francisco could help bridge the gap with the young players and get the Niners back to playing the type of defense we'd become accustomed to.
