Ex-Jets coach Robert Saleh returns to 49ers to be team’s defensive coordinator again
The San Francisco 49ers officially named Robert Saleh the team’s new defensive coordinator Friday night.
Saleh, 45, previously served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2020 before leaving to become the head coach of the New York Jets. He was fired by the Jets in October just five games into his fourth season, finishing his tenure with a 20-36 record. Though the Jets struggled under Saleh, particularly on offense, the coach’s defensive acumen appears to remain top-notch.
The Jets were a top-five defense in yards against the past three seasons (fourth in 2022, third in 2023, third in 2024). Saleh also oversaw two top-five units in his first go-around with the 49ers (second in 2019 when San Francisco won the NFC, fifth in 2020).
Though San Francisco has generally remained stout on defense since Saleh’s departure after the 2020 season, the defensive coordinator position has become something of a revolving door for Kyle Shanahan.
DeMeco Ryans excelled after taking the reins from Saleh — so much so that he left to become head coach of the Houston Texans after two seasons. Steve Wilks took over in 2023 and the 49ers reached the Super Bowl, but Wilks was fired after the season.
Nick Sorensen took over as DC but was ousted after the 49ers’ disappointing 2024 season. The 49ers finished eighth in yards against for the second consecutive year, but plummeted from third in points against to 29th — their worst showing in that department since they finished last in the league in 2016’s 2-14 debacle.
49ers Aim to be Faster and More Exotic on Defense Under Robert Saleh
Tony Pauline says he has spoken to 49ers assistant coaches at the Shrine Bowl practices about these upcoming changes.
Robert Saleh has been the 49ers defensive coordinator for just two days, and already reports and rumors are flying about how he’s going to change the defense.
Tony Pauline says he has spoken to 49ers assistant coaches at the Shrine Bowl practices about these upcoming changes.
“Niners coaches here at the Shrine Bowl practice have outlined what the plan is and hopes are for 2025,” writes Pauline. “A major priority will be to increase team speed on defense, specifically in the secondary, via the draft and free agency. There also is a cry to be more innovative on defense. The team was criticized for being too vanilla on defense and never moving away from the base package. The belief is they will be a bit more exotic next season and throw in a lot more wrinkles and surprises.”
Let’s try to decode Pauline’s report.
Increasing team speed in the secondary could mean letting Talanoa Hufanga leave in free agency. Hufanga is a former All Pro who plays with terrific instincts, but he’s not fast. He ran a 4.64 at his Pro Day, and that was before he tore his ACL. And remember, Saleh never coached Hufanga. The 49ers drafted him when DeMeco Ryans was their defensive coordinator. Perhaps the Texans will sign Hufanga.
Being more innovate on defense could mean calling more five-man pressures and man-to-man coverages on third down. That’s what Robert Saleh did when he was the defensive coordinator with the 49ers the first time and he was quite effective.
