The San Francisco 49ers defense has returned to its elite status in 2025, and that’s large in part to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
The 49ers have dealt with numerous injuries in 2025, yet the defense continues to perform at a high level.
Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before getting hired as the New York Jets head coach in 2021. However, less than four years later, he was fired.
Will Saleh get another head coaching shot?
Since the Jets moved on from Saleh, he spent time with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive consultant in 2024 before rejoining the 49ers as their defensive coordinator for the 2025 season.
However, as we approach the halfway point in the season and many coaches’ seats continue to get hotter, you start to wonder if Saleh will get another chance.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco certainly believes so, and says the 49ers believe so as well.
.@Realrclark25 and @mspears96 give 49ers’ DC Robert Saleh credit for how prepared the 49ers were despite losing Fred Warner 💪 pic.twitter.com/Di8DGMVIZu
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 20, 2025
“The only way Saleh does not land one of those coveted positions in 2026 is if owners and general managers focus on offensive-minded candidates,” Maiocco said. “We doubt any amount of money could keep Saleh as a defensive coordinator. He wants to be a head coach and wash away the taste of getting fired after leading the dysfunctional New York Jets for more than three seasons.
“Shanahan knew when he hired Saleh that he might have him for only one year. That’s why the tentative succession plan at defensive coordinator involves Gus Bradley, who holds the title of 49ers assistant head coach of defense.”
Saleh has certainly redefined himself back with the 49ers, reminding everyone what a great defensive mind he is. There’s plenty of instances throughout NFL history where defensive coordinators, and coordinators in general, have found great success, but then failed as a head coach.
The team loves DC Robert Saleh and he gets our Defensive players playing some of their best career ball and at a high level. He brings the best out in them. His DEF is 🔥🦾 #49ers #FTTB #AGNB pic.twitter.com/qqJd2CVJ1c
— 49er_Edits (@49er_edits) October 21, 2025
However, Saleh’s tenure in New York wasn’t as bad as it’s perceived from the outside. The Jets won 23 games across the five seasons before Saleh, achieving seven wins once, and no more than five wins in any other year during that span.
The Jets went 4-13 in Saleh’s first year, but then had back-to-back seven win seasons before he was fired in 2024.
Saleh’s first head coaching opportunity in New York wasn’t a success, but his defensive coordinating resume argues for him to get another chance.
According to Maiocco, the 49ers certainly believe so as well, and were just happy to get him for the 2025 season.
