The 49ers believe they’ve struck gold for the second time with the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
General manager John Lynch lauded the ex-Jets coach on Wednesday during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, noting the “experiences he’s had” makes for an even stronger reunion with San Francisco looking to turn the page on a lost 6-11 season.
“It’s awesome to have Saleh back. It felt like he never left, to be honest,” Lynch told reporters. “You get very close with folks when you work with them as much as we do. Saleh brought a great deal when he was last here, I think he’s even better now with the experiences he’s had. And it’s a welcome sight to have him back, the energy that he brings, the expertise that he brings, the leadership he brings.”
Saleh’s first stint with the Niners began in 2017 as the team’s defensive coordinator.
He became a first-time head coach in 2021 upon being hired as Adam Gase’s successor with the Jets.
Saleh’s time in New York was turbulent to say the least, with the Jets going 4-13 in his first season at the helm with then-rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.
Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, didn’t fare much better in Year Two and was benched late in the season before a brief return to action.
The Jets threw a Hail Mary in 2023 by acquiring Aaron Rodgers from the Packers, fueling Super Bowl aspirations well before the season began.
Those dreams lasted just four plays into the season when Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in September 2023.
Although Rodgers, 41, was cleared to play in 2024, the Jets got off to a bumpy 2-3 start, resulting in Saleh’s firing in early October.
He finished his time in New York with a 20-36 record.
Before rejoining the 49ers, the 46-year-old Saleh worked as an offensive consultant for the Packers. He also interviewed with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders this head coaching cycle.
It’s been an evolving offseason for the 49ers, with the team firing first-year defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen last month.
The team parted ways with his predecessor, Steve Wilks, after their Super Bowl 2024 loss to the Chiefs. Wilks is now the Jets’ defensive coordinator under new head coach Aaron Glenn.