Robert Saleh hired by 49ers for second stint as team’s defensive coordinator

Robert Saleh hired by 49ers for second stint as team’s defensive coordinator

It’s official: Robert Saleh is back with the San Francisco 49ers.

Saleh, who was fired by the Jets during the season, was hired by the 49ers for second stint as the team’s defensive coordinator on Friday night, The Post’s Brian Costello confirmed.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that Saleh was expected to return to his old stomping grounds.

Robert Saleh is returning to the 49ers to be the team's defensive coordinator.
Robert Saleh is returning to the 49ers to be the team’s defensive coordinator. Getty Images

The 45-year-old coach — who Jets owner Woody Johnson quickly fired after a 2-3 start — was a candidate for head-coaching jobs with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders.

But once those three spots were filled, Saleh decided to return to the 49ers to try to rebuild their defense the dominance it had at the end of his first stint with the team.

The defensive coordinator job has been a revolving door for the 49ers, and Saleh will be fourth one in four seasons for Kyle Shanahan’s club.

DeMeco Ryans, who replaced Saleh in 2021, left to become head coach in Houston following the 2022 season, and Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen were each replaced after one season the past two years.

Saleh was just 20-36 during his four seasons as the Jets’ head coach, but their defense was always strong under his tenure.

During Saleh’s last two full seasons in New York, the Jets ranked first in yards pᴀssing per game (178.9) and yards per play allowed (4.7).

They also were second in total defense (301.7 yards per game) during that time, but the defense imploded this season, especially after Jeff Ulbrich, Saleh’s defensive coordinator, was promoted to the head-coaching spot.

As for the Jets, they went the defensive coordinator route again, hiring Aaron Glenn on Wednesday as their head coach.

Glenn, a cornerback who played eight seasons with the Jets, had four successful seasons as the head of the Lions’ defense.

— with AP

Related Posts

Terry Bradshaw announces shock career move

Terry Bradshaw announces shock career move

Legendary NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw has written a cookbook with his family enтιтled ‘The Bradshaw Family Cookbook’, which will hit bookshelves in the middle of September.  Bradshaw…

NFL fans left stunned as new head coach ‘introduces controversial religious sessions in training’

NFL fans left stunned as new head coach ‘introduces controversial religious sessions in training’

New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has divided opinion among fans after apparently bringing religious sessions to the franchise. Glenn, 52, was hired by the organization in…

NFL star stuns parish as he furiously interrogates church leader over priest’s porn accusations

NFL star stuns parish as he furiously interrogates church leader over priest’s porn accusations

NFL long snapper Jake McQuaide was forcibly removed from a Catholic mᴀss after he questioned whether a priest had viewed pornography on a parish computer.  McQuaide, a…

BREAKING NEWSMinnesota Vikings legend Jim Marshall dies aged 87

BREAKING NEWSMinnesota Vikings legend Jim Marshall dies aged 87

Vikings legend Jim Marshall has died at the age of 87, the team has announced. The former defensive end pᴀssed away following a ‘lengthy hospitalization,’ according to…

BREAKING NEWSCollege soccer star and son of former NFL player Milton Stegall dies in dorm room

BREAKING NEWSCollege soccer star and son of former NFL player Milton Stegall dies in dorm room

Chase Stegall, the son of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Milton Stegall, has died suddenly at the age of 20.  Chase, a rising collegiate soccer star at…

Vikings have major concerns about QB JJ McCarthy after pᴀssing on free-agent Aaron Rodgers, insider says

Vikings have major concerns about QB JJ McCarthy after pᴀssing on free-agent Aaron Rodgers, insider says

The Minnesota Vikings declined to bring in veteran free-agent Aaron Rodgers. Now, according to one league insider, the team is still unconvinced starting quarterback JJ McCarthy is…