Robert Saleh is again in a well-known place, as he has rejoined the San Francisco 49ers because the staff’s defensive coordinator below head coach Kyle Shanahan, a place he held from 2017-20 earlier than leaving to change into the pinnacle coach of the New York Jets.
Saleh mentioned whether or not something in his protection has modified since his first stint within the Bay Space.
“You’re all the time attempting to remain two years forward of the offense [trends],” Saleh said of his defensive strategy at 49ers coordinator availability on Thursday. “Once we went to the Jets, there have been lots of various things that we began to do. And, even now, whereas we’ve got some issues from the Jets, there’s stuff that has developed over the course of the final 4 years right here, and, clearly, with the league that there’s stuff occurring. We’ve, over this offseason, lots of actually cool ideas, lots of actually cool issues. Some issues are the identical; some issues are the identical from the Jets; some issues are meshed; some issues are coming in that is new.”
“So, it’s like I stated, we’re attempting to remain a pair years forward. Loads of it might appear related, however there’s lots of nuance that makes a distinction.”
After going a mixed 10-22 from 2017-18, the 49ers have been the breakout staff of the 2019 season, going 13-3, incomes the No. 1 seed within the NFC and later successful the NFC. Saleh’s protection was the rock, as they have been second within the NFL in whole yards surrendered (281.8 per sport), tied for fifth in sacks (48) and have been eighth in factors surrendered (19.4 per sport). The next yr, San Francisco was fifth in whole yards surrendered (314.4 per sport) regardless of being ravaged by accidents on each side of the ball.
After the Jets completed final in whole yards and factors surrendered in Saleh’s first season as head coach (2021), they completed fourth in each defensive classes in 2022 and third in whole yards surrendered in 2023. Saleh was fired after the staff’s 2-3 begin to the 2024 season and later joined the Green Bay Packers as an offensive advisor below head coach Matt LaFleur. New York went 20-36 below Saleh.
Saleh marks San Francisco’s fourth defensive coordinator change since his departure following the 2020 season: DeMeco Ryans (2021-22), Steve Wilks (2023), Nick Sorensen (2024) and Saleh (2025).
Final season, the 49ers have been twenty ninth in factors surrendered (25.6 per sport), 18th in speeding yards surrendered (124.6 per sport), eighth in whole yards surrendered (317.4 per sport) and fifth in passing yards surrendered (192.8 per sport).
This offseason, San Francisco launched linebacker Leonard Floyd and defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins, whereas shedding security Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw to free company. It added defensive backs Richie Grant, Tre Brown and Jason Pinnock, amongst others. The 49ers then went protection with every of their first 5 alternatives within the 2025 NFL Draft, starting with Georgia defensive finish Mykel Williams (No. 11), Texas defensive sort out Alfred Collins (No. 43) and Oklahoma State linebacker Nick Martin (No. 75).
San Francisco is coming off a 6-11 season that noticed it end final within the NFC West and miss the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.
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