It seems like only yesterday that the San Francisco 49ers were competing for the chance to win Super Bowl LVIII. While the 49ers were only four points shy of winning the Lombardi Trophy last year, they fell far short of their expectations this season, missing the playoffs entirely. The franchise is now developing a plan to return to the playoffs next season, but changes will be required. One decision has already been made to change defensive coordinators, as Nick Sorensen’s defense ranked 29th in points allowed. The 49ers have been looking for a successor and have a major name on their list.
According to NBC Sports’ 49ers source Matt Maiocco, Robert Saleh is “in line to be” the 49ers’ defensive coordinator again. “Robert Saleh is in line to be 49ers defensive coordinator, source says, unless he ends up with head-coaching position,” Maiocco adds. “If he is a defensive coordinator this season, it’ll be with the 49ers, he told the team.” Saleh is still being considered for the Dallas Cowboys’ head coaching position. If Saleh becomes the frontrunner in Dallas, he will almost certainly not be hired as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
Saleh has taken part in two Super Bowl attempts. The first was in 2013, when he worked as the defensive quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks, who won Super Bowl XLVIII. The next year, he was named the Jacksonville Jaguars’ linebackers coach, a position he held for three seasons.
He then became the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2017, where he served for four seasons, including the team’s Super Bowl run in 2019. A year later, he was hired as head coach of the New York Jets, owing in large part to his outstanding performance in command of San Francisco’s defense.
During Saleh’s tenure as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator, the team was twice ranked in the top five in yards allowed and once in points allowed. If he can get the 49ers back to that level of greatness, they may be able to return to the promised land.
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