49ers Rumors: Robert Saleh Linked as DC Candidate After Nick Sorensen's Firing

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 Josina Anderson, Saleh is set to interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coaching job on Tuesday and also has another head coaching interview lined up after that.

However, if no team hires Saleh to be their head coach, the 49ers are reportedly expected to make him an offer to return to the organization as the defensive coordinator following the decision to remove Nick Sorensen from the DC role on Tuesday.

Before serving as the Jets' head coach from 2021 until his firing after a 2-3 start this season, Saleh was the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020.

Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, Saleh coached San Francisco to top-five finishes in total defense in both 2019 and 2020. The Niners also ranked eighth in scoring defense in 2019 when they reached the Super Bowl.

After Saleh's departure, DeMeco Ryans was the 49ers' defensive coordinator for two seasons, and he parlayed it into a head coaching position with the Houston Texans.

Shanahan has only given each of his two defensive coordinators since then one season on the job, as he fired Steve Wilks after reaching the Super Bowl in 2023 and then made the decision to move on from Sorensen after this season.

Several key defensive players missed significant time due to injury for the Niners this season, including pass-rusher Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.

As a result, the 49ers dropped from third in scoring defense in 2023 to 29th this season and missed the playoffs, although they maintained their No. 8 ranking in total defense from 2023 to 2024.

The 45-year-old Saleh went just 20-36 and failed to reach the playoffs in parts of four seasons as the Jets' head coach, but his defense typically performed well.

New York ranked fourth or better in total defense in each of the past three seasons under Saleh, and the Jets were also fourth in scoring defense in 2022 and 12th last season.

The biggest issue for the Jets during Saleh's tenure was poor quarterback play, which is something he won't have to worry about if he returns to a DC role.

Given that Saleh was one of Shanahan's first hires when he became the 49ers' head coach, it stands to reason that Saleh will be given far more leash than Wilks and Sorensen were should he return to San Francisco.

Landing the Jaguars head coaching job isn't out of the question for Saleh since he was the Jags' linebackers coach from 2014 to 2016, but San Francisco may be his most realistic landing spot, especially since it would potentially allow him to rebuild his value as a future head coaching candidate.