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

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Johnny Manziel leads pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Special Forces

Former NFL quarterback Johnny Manziel headlines the pack of sports stars taking part in season four of Fox reality compeтιтion Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, which premiers next…

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL confirms major loophole in new ban on smelling salts and other ammonia inhalants

NFL players gripping their contraband smelling salts like winning lottery tickets can relax: the league won’t ban the inhalants. The players’ union sent a memo to members…

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

Dallas Cowboys backup QB Joe Milton easily tops NFL ‘record’ during scrimmage with Los Angeles Rams

The Cowboys’ offseason trade for Patriots backup Joe Milton wasn’t supposed to start a quarterback controversy in Dallas, given the status of entrenched $240 million starter Dak…

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Travis Kelce glad to escape Taylor Swift attention in ‘sanctuary’ of Kansas City Chiefs camp

Kansas City Chiefs тιԍнт end Travis Kelce is glad to escape the mᴀssive attention he gets as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, calling the team’s training camp a ‘sanctuary’…

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

Revealed: Why Kansas City Chiefs welcomed a sworn enemy into camp… and he was even wearing team uniform

The Kansas City Chiefs have brought former Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce to training camp despite being a former sworn enemy due to his vast defensive…

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

Machine Gun Kelly reveals somber Taylor Swift Super Bowl chat as Travis Kelce and the Chiefs were getting beat

The Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIX loss was devastating for Travis Kelce, but it was a sad night for Machine Gun Kelly as well. The musician, who grew…