The San Francisco 49ers have cycled defensive coordinators in and out in the four years they spent without Robert Saleh in charge, and they decided that the best way to turn this unit around was to get the band back together and rehired their beloved assistant.
After Saleh's inability to land a quarterback and co-exist with Aaron Rodgers led to his firing as head coach of the New York Jets, he decided to link back up with his old friends. 49ers tight end George Kittle, appearing on the Rich Eisen Show, is projecting humiliation and pain for anyone who dares to face off against them.
"Violence is coming is what I would say," Kittle said. "He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again...he knows what he's talking about, he's inspiring, he gets the boys fired up, and he just happens to also be really, really smart."
Saleh may not have been the head coach who could stabilize the Jets (it looks like no one in the NFL is capable of doing that), but his time in San Francisco and New York has proven he is an elite defensive mind.
George Kittle promises "violence" with Robert Saleh as 49ers DC
Saleh's Jets defenses, which ranked among the best in the business in 2022 and 2023, were so good that the Jets almost made the playoffs with Zach Wilson as their quarterback. Perhaps the biggest testament to his quality is how putrid the team looked when Jeff Ulbrich took over.
The Jets ranked fifth in EPA per play in the first five weeks of the season, despite their 2-3 record, when Saleh was fired. From Weeks 6-15 under Ulbrich, the Jets fell to dead last at 32nd overall. Removing Saleh's schematic mind turned the Jets from the '85 Bears to the Chip Kelly 49ers instantly.
Saleh is coming onto a defense that lost multiple key starters in the offseason, but the addition of Bryce Huff via trade and a pair of Top 50 picks being used on defensive linemen in Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins should help make San Francisco's defensive line well above average.
Saleh may end up being one of those coaches who can't be in charge of everything, but is an elite coordinator when he focuses on his specialty. The 49ers, should they stay healthy and Brock Purdy live up to his big contract, could benefit from Saleh's return.
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