Dearborn native Robert Saleh and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms for the former New York Jets head coach to return to as the team’s defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Friday, per sources.
From 2017-2020, Saleh was 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s DC. He helped the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance during that span and constructed the defensive foundation for a club that would advance to the NFC Championship Game or better in three straight years following Saleh’s departure to the New York Jets to become their head coach.
Saleh was fired in the middle of the Jets’ 2024 campaign and seemed to be a logical choice to return to San Francisco after the 49ers decided not to retain Nick Sorensen as their DC. However, the 49ers have been forced to display a bit of patience as Saleh took head coaching interviews with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.
