Robert Saleh is happy to be far from at least part of the head coach service.
The former Jets coach, now back in his former excavations as a defensive coordinator of the 49ers, told journalists on Thursday that he was happy “not to face all the administrative things that accompany being head coach” and can now focus on football training.
“The perspective, and that is what was exciting to come back. I am just in a building where I was once a coordinator and now having a world opinion,” said Saleh. “There is a lot of empathy by now understanding what (the 49ers coach) Kyle (Shanahan) pass and try to help him as best I can.”
Saleh, who went 20-36 more than three seasons and more with the jets before being dismissed after a start of 2-3 last season, said that there was no temptation to go anywhere except San Francisco, where he was a defensive coordinator for four seasons before taking the work of the jets.
“I have a lot of respect for this organization. Obviously, starting from above, (owner) Jed (York) is phenomenal. But Kyle, his family (GM) John (Lynch), they gave me so much,” said Saleh.
“In the first two years, you are thinking of these first two years as coordinator of D, ’17 and ’18, it was not easy. And it could have been very easy for them to go from me.
Saleh’s defense helped lead the 49ers to an appearance of the Super Bowl in 2020 before being hired in New York. His mandate, however, has never been completely put on the right track.
During the first two years, the club had trouble trying to develop Zach Wilson before finally moving on when it brought Aaron Rodgers in 2023.
This experience, however, turned out to be an unmountained disaster. Rodgers tore his Achilles during his first appearance with the jets, and when he was healthy last season, he looked more like a quarter of more than 40 years than a former MVP.
Constant outdoor distractions also dotted the time of the quarter in New York, and Saleh was pulled without ceremonies after the jets abandoned their match of week 5 in London against Minnesota.
“You learn a lot. I have already said it, there is no manual for a first head coach, there is no manual for the first time by life,” said Saleh. “You learn a lot throughout the process, you discover a lot about yourself, you understand and take if you look inward and you are looking for the mirror, you can identify some of the things you have done wrong, some of the things you like to do differently.
“Whenever you get an experience different from those you have always lived, you have the opportunity to grow. So there has been a lot of reflection and growth in this regard.”
