Former 49ers DC Robert Saleh could return to San Francisco after his Jets tenure, with Kyle Shanahan eyeing a familiar leader to restore defensive dominance.

The San Francisco 49ers might be turning back the clock by interviewing former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh for their open defensive coordinator position. Saleh left the exact role with the 49ers following the 2020 season to become the Jets coach.

There may be a Robert Saleh reunion on the West Coast. The 49ers are “expected” to offer their open defensive coordinator job to Saleh, according to Josina Anderson, a position he held with the franchise before becoming head coach of the Jets.

Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries across the NFL over the last decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The last two stops have included duties as the defensive passing game coordinator.

The 49ers could have a Robert Saleh reunion happening very soon, as the organization starts to narrow down the list of replacement DC options.

A return to the San Francisco 49ers reportedly could be in the cards for former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh. According to NFL insider

The 2024 campaign was a rough one for the San Francisco 49ers, and after wrapping up their season with a 47-24 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the team fired their defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. As a result, the team needs to fill the position, and they could turn to old friend Robert Saleh as they look to shore up their defense.

The San Francisco 49ers began their search for a new defensive coordinator by interviewing Robert Saleh for a second stint at the job and Detroit Lions assistant Deshea Townsend.

The San Francisco 49ers are considering bringing back their former defensive coordinator. The team announced on Thursday that it had completed an