49ers announce hiring of Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator

Robert Saleh and the 49ers were waiting for the former Jets coach to be out of the mix for head coaching jobs before he made a recruiting official. The Raiders are hiring Pete Carroll and Cowboys pitching staff Brian Schottenheimer on Friday made it official.

Saleh will return to San Francisco as 49ers defensive coordinator, the team announced.

He interviewed with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders and appeared on the front range for the position in Jacksonville. Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Quinn began negotiating with the team again Thursday after they fired general manager Trent Balk.

Saleh canceled his flight to Jacksonville late Thursday for a second interview scheduled for Friday, and the Jaguars hired Quinn.

Saleh spent four-plus seasons as head coach of the Jets, going 20-36 in his time in New York. The team has launched five games into the 2024 season.

Saleh initially joined the 49ers in 2017, and his “All Gas, No Brake” defense became one of the best units in the league within two years. His work in San Francisco earned him the Jets job, and it could lead to a second chance as head coach after the 2025 season.