Finally! 49ers bring back Robert Saleh as Defensive Coordinator after head coaching pursuits
The Niners replace Brian Schneider and Nick Sorensen by bringing back former Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
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Robert Saleh returns the Bay Area for a second stint as the defensive coordinator. (Image via San Francisco 49ers)
After a disappointing journey with the New York Jets, Robert Saleh has found his place once again on the West Coast. Saleh, who became the first Lebanese origin head coach in NFL history, was fired after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6 of the 2024 NFL season.
The San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Salah’s reunion as the defensive coordinator for the upcoming season replacing Nick Sorensen. In the one year as defensive coordinator, Sorensen wasn’t bad, but they had issues in several key areas.
The beat-up roster added critical issues while they allowed teams to quickly build an offensive front against them, giving more than 40 points in multiple instances. Under Sorensen, Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers broke the 49ers’ 44 straight games with no rusher more than 100 yards streak.
After the departure of Robert Saleh in 2020, the Niners have tried DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks, and Sorensen in the past four years. Sorensen, who had been a defensive assistant in 2022 and special teams coordinator in 2023, wasn’t Shanahan’s first choice heading into the 2024 season. After everything, the stars have finally aligned – Shanahan has his fellow friend and his choice reinstated for a second term.
49ers hire Robert Saleh as their Defensive Coordinator. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/yify0SVoW4
— NFL (@NFL) January 25, 2025
During Saleh’s first stint as the defensive coordinator for the 49ers (2017–2020), he led an impressive unit that excelled across several metrics. During his tenure, the defense ranked third in passing yards allowed per game (211.4), fourth in total defense (323.6) and opponent yards per play (5.1), and sixth in opponent yards per rush (4.1).
In 2019, Saleh’s efforts earned him the title of Coordinator of the Year by Sporting News. That season, he guided the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV with a dominant defense. The unit ranked first in passing yards allowed per game (169.2), second in total defense (281.8), and tied for second in third-down defense (33.3%). As the Niners prepare for a comeback, can Saleh work the defensive magic once again?
Amid Robert Saleh’s hiring, Nick Sorenson had to be shown the doors
After parting ways with special teams coordinator Brian Schneider and defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, the Niners finalized on former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Amid the same, Matt Maiocco, an Insider from NBC Bay Area Sports, believes that Sorensen and his defensive assistant Brandon Staley’s time is over in the Bay Area.
In the latest episode released on his YouTube channel, Maiocco expressed that Staley won’t return as the defensive coordinator. His statements have come true as the 49ers went with Saleh.
I’m getting the impression that Brandon Staley, who is the only internal candidate for the 49ers’ defensive coordinator job … I’m hearing he probably will not be back.
Matt Maiocco remarked
Regarding Sorensen, although he was ultimately let go from his position, Shanahan mentioned during his end-of-year press conference that there was an interest in keeping the one-and-done coordinator in some role. In the absence of Schneider after a flawed special teams season, Sorensen could go toe-to-toe with other options like Matt Silver for the special teams’ coordinator position.
However, according to Maiocco, “it was going to be too awkward a situation” for Sorensen to remain with the team in any capacity.
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Mohammed Bazim
(442 Articles Published)