Bringing Robert Saleh back was the 49ers’ best offseason move
Credit: Chuck Cook-Imagn Images
Robert Saleh made his highly anticipated return to the San Francisco 49ers in January, and it may be the 49ers’ best offseason addition. The 49ers Faithful immediately embraced the idea of Saleh’s return as the team announced they were interviewing him for the defensive coordinator position.
Saleh served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator during the early years of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tenure. He was hired to be the head coach of the New York Jets in January 2021 and was let go in the middle of the 2024 NFL season. For the rest of last season, he spent time in a consulting role with the Green Bay Packers, according to ESPN.
On Jan. 24, Shanahan announced that the 49ers were hiring Saleh as their new defensive coordinator. This came 16 days after Shanahan confirmed that the team had moved on from their previous defensive coordinator, Nick Sorenson.
The 49ers have had a lot of defensive instability in the last two seasons, with two defensive coordinators and many injuries throughout that time frame. Saleh brings back a sense of defensive identity to San Francisco’s locker room.
"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,” said 49ers tight end George Kittle on The Rich Eisen Show. “You can just tell he's ready to roll this year, and he's gonna get the boys fired up."
During his first run in San Francisco, Saleh developed the 49ers’ defense into one of the best and most productive units in the league. According to Pro Football Reference, San Francisco finished with a top-10 defense in 2019. Pro Football Focus also ranked the 49ers’ secondary as the second-best in the NFL. That year, the 49ers made the Super Bowl and ended up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Despite the loss, Saleh made many strides with his defensive unit. He helped develop edge rusher and 2019 draftee Nick Bosa into one of the best edge defenders in the NFL. Saleh continued to develop successful young players, namely cornerback Sauce Gardner, in his time with the Jets. Gardner earned All-Pro honors twice under Saleh and is now Pro Football Focus’s No. 1-ranked cornerback going into this season.
After drafting defensive players with their first five picks, the 49ers are confident that Saleh can continue to foster growth among talented young players. San Francisco’s defense showed some flashes in their preseason opener last Saturday. They were able to hold the Denver Broncos’ starting offense to a field goal in the first quarter and even forced a safety.
If Saleh can replicate even part of his success from his first stint in San Francisco while molding the next wave of defensive talent, the 49ers could start to reclaim their defensive identity. His energy, experience, and track record of elevating players will help power the team’s return to championship contention.