San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Returns After Change of Heart
After Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen emerged as the leading candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s return path to the team seemed to clear up. He will return to a 49ers squad that finished 6-11 in the 2024 season, with a defense that ranked 29th in points allowed.
Despite the team’s struggles, the 49ers are still loaded with defensive talent, including defensive end Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner, and safety Talanoa Hufanga. During Saleh’s tenure with the 49ers, the team became a top-five unit in yards allowed in each of his final two seasons.
Saleh’s time in the NFL began with the Houston Texans in 2005 as a defensive intern. He had long stretches in Houston, Seattle, and Jacksonville before joining the 49ers. His partnership with head coach Kyle Shanahan was fruitful, and now begins anew with the 49ers defense looking to move forward from a forgettable 2024 showing.
