Robert Saleh and the 49ers were waiting for the former jet coach to be excluded from head coach positions before formalizing his hiring. The hiring of Pete Carroll by the Raiders and the promotion of Brian Schottenheimer by the Cowboys on Friday made him official.
Saleh will return to San Francisco as a defensive coordinator of the 49ers, the team announced.
He interviewed cowboys, jaguars and raiders and appeared to be one of the favorites for the position in Jacksonville. Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator Liam Coen started negotiating with the team Thursday after dismissed the director general Trent Baalke.
Saleh canceled his flight to Jacksonville Thursday evening for a second interview scheduled for Friday, and the Jaguars hired Coen.
Saleh spent more than four seasons as a jets’ chief coach, with a 20-36 sheet during his stay in New York. The team returned it five games during the 2024 season.
Saleh initially joined the 49ers in 2017, and its defense “all gas, without brake” has become one of the best units in the League in two years. His work in San Francisco earned him the post of the jets, and that could open a second opportunity as a chief coach after the 2025 season.
