The San Francisco 49ers have a 5-2 record this season and one of the reasons why they are good despite the injuries is because of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Saleh was the head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-2024.
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Sep 28, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh walks off of the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
He was fired during the middle of the 2024 NFL season with the Jets. Saleh returning to be the 49ers defensive coordinator for the 2025 NFL season has been a really good move for him. Is there a chance that he is still the defensive coordinator for San Francisco after the 2025 NFL season, or will he land a head coaching job elsewhere for next season?
NFL Analyst Believes That San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh Could Be a Head Coach Again In the NFL
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Sep 7, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh talks with linebacker Fred Warner (54) during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
With the job Saleh has done with the 49ers on defense this season, there is a chance that other NFL teams could take a chance on him to be a head coach once again in the NFL. Well, USA Today writer Cody Woodroof believes that Saleh is one of the coordinators in the NFL who could potentially get hired during the next head coaching cycle. He said,
“Saleh might not be out of a head coaching job for long after his stellar work with the 49ers defense this season. Saleh’s coaching has been pretty undeniable since rejoining San Francisco, making the most out of a banged-up defense missing key stars. His time with the New York Jets was a struggle, but you can say that about most coaches who work for that franchise. It’s not hard to imagine Saleh getting another opportunity in 2026.”
Saleh could be one of those coaches who is better off as a coordinator than as a head coach. However, when he was the head coach of the Jets, they had an elite defense before they fired him. If Saleh were to be hired as a head coach elsewhere, there is no doubt that his defense will be very good. If he does get hired this time around, Saleh needs to find the right offensive coordinator though.
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