Former Jets Coach Robert Saleh Reunites with 49ers as Defensive coordinator.

The wait is over—Robert Saleh is returning to the Bay Area.

Saleh and the San Francisco 49ers have finalized a deal for the former New York Jets head coach to rejoin the team as defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero. The team later confirmed the news.

From 2017 to 2020, Saleh served as the defensive coordinator for head coach Kyle Shanahan, playing a pivotal role in the 49ers’ run to a Super Bowl appearance. During his tenure, he built the defensive foundation for a team that would reach the NFC Championship Game—or better—in three consecutive seasons after he left to coach the Jets.

Saleh’s return to San Francisco comes after his firing during the Jets’ tumultuous 2024 campaign. Following the 49ers’ decision not to retain Nick Sorensen as their defensive coordinator, Saleh quickly emerged as a logical replacement. However, the team had to wait as he interviewed for head coaching roles with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

When Jaguars candidate Liam Coen, the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator, became the front-runner after a sudden shift, the path for Saleh’s return to the 49ers cleared.

Now back in San Francisco, Saleh inherits a team that struggled to a 6-11 record in 2024 due to injuries. The defense, ranked 29th in points allowed, faces significant challenges but remains stocked with elite talent, including Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Talanoa Hufanga.

Under Saleh’s guidance during his previous stint, the 49ers consistently ranked among the league’s best defenses, finishing in the top five in yards allowed in his final two seasons. Similarly, during his last two years with the Jets, their defense ranked in the top four in the same category.

Saleh began his NFL career in 2005 as a defensive intern with the Houston Texans. His coaching journey included stints with the Seahawks and Jaguars before he joined Shanahan in San Francisco, where the two forged a successful partnership.

Now reunited, Saleh and the 49ers aim to rebound from a forgettable 2024 season and reclaim their defensive dominance.