Robert Saleh expected to join 49ers for second stint

On By Littum

Robert Saleh seems to be heading back to a familiar place.

Ex-Jets head coach expected to be next 49ers defensive coordinator, The Athletic reported Thursday night.

If a deal is completed, it would bring Saleh, 45, back to San Francisco, where he was the defensive coordinator from 2017-20.

Robert Saleh was fired as head coach of the Jets after five games in 2024. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Saleh was among the candidates for the Jaguars’ head coaching job, and he was expected to have a second interview on Friday.

However, one day after the Jaguars fired general manager Trent Baalke, the team secretly met with Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who had originally withdrawn from the running for the Jacksonville head coaching job.

But now Coen is back in the game, and with that, Saleh canceled his flight to Jacksonville, per Athletic.

Robert Saleh was previously the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Saleh was also a candidate for the Raiders and Cowboys and interviewed in person with Dallas last week.

He helped transform the team’s defense during his first stint in San Francisco, which culminated in a Super Bowl appearance in the 2019-20 season.

Just two seasons after the 49ers were ninth worst in the NFL in yards allowed per game. Game (351.6), they ranked second (281.8) in the same category in which they won the NFC crown.

Saleh parlayed his defensive prowess into the Jets head coaching job in 2021, but the same success did not follow.

After three straight losing seasons and a 2-3 start in 2024, Saleh was fired and replaced with Jeff Ulbrich on an interim basis.

Saleh then worked as an offensive consultant for the Packers for the remainder of the year following his outing.

Robert Saleh speaks to the media before practice in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

This past season also represented a down year for the 49ers, who went 6-11 and finished last in the NFC West—just one season removed from another Super Bowl loss.

In the days following the season, the team created its defensive coordinator need when it decided to cut Nick Sorensen after one year, though the 49ers hoped to retain him in another capacity.

However, NBC Sports Bay Area reported Thursday that Sorensen is not expected to stay with the organization.