October 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New York Jets coach Robert Saleh reacts against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images A day after The Athletic reported that the San Francisco 49ers were in the process of arranging 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 THROTTLE, NO BRAKES. WELCOME HOME, ROBERT SALEH.”
ALL THROTTLE, NO BRAKE
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) 25 January 2025
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 leading 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 made it to the Super Bowl after 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 into the 2024 season.
The 49ers fired defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen this month after he was in the role for just 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 an 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 until 2010, then was part of the Seattle Seahawks’ staff (2011-13) ) and Jacksonville Jaguars staff (2014-16).
The 49ers, who lost another Super Bowl to the Chiefs after the 2023 season, slipped to 6-11 and last place in the NFC West in 2024.
–Field Level Media
