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There is no doubt in San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle‘s mind when identifying the team’s biggest offseason addition. Speaking with Michael Silver of The Athletic, Kittle revealed that his pick wasn’t a player at all—not quarterback Mac Jones, who’s filled in admirably for the injured Brock Purdy, and not one of the team’s 11 draft selections.
Instead, Kittle named returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as the 49ers’ most impactful addition. Under Saleh’s leadership, the 49ers’ defense ranks seventh in points allowed (19.7 per game), a massive turnaround from last season, when the unit tied for 27th in the NFL (25.6 points per game).
“Saleh is the best signing we’ve ever had,” Kittle told Silver. “I’ve been saying that since OTAs. It’s not just how smart he is, but his juice. He’s inspirational. He’s great in meetings. His energy is infectious, every single day. And he gets our young guys ready.”
Best during Kittle’s tenure? That’s high praise from the All-Pro tight end.
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Saleh interviewed with multiple teams for head coaching jobs this past offseason. He was also a highly sought-after coordinator. According to Silver, the Las Vegas Raiders offered him a record-breaking contract with the understanding that he could eventually succeed now-74-year-old Pete Carroll as head coach.
Still, Saleh was determined to return to the 49ers if he didn’t land another head coaching job.
“The 49ers felt right to me,” Saleh explained. “It’s a championship organization, with an owner (Jed York), GM (John Lynch), and head coach (Kyle Shanahan) that I respect so much. Watching the way they operate is such a helpful thing for me, now that I’ve had that (head coaching) experience. And Kyle and I had already rebuilt a defense once — this was a chance for us to do it again.”
The 49ers underwent sweeping offseason changes, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. And despite enduring a massive injury count, including the loss of defensive cornerstones Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for the season, Saleh’s defense has been a driving force behind the team’s 5-2 start.
Kittle isn’t the only offensive player praising Saleh’s influence.
“Saleh brings a different kind of energy to the building,” quarterback Brock Purdy said, “and he’s dialing it up. He’s really, really smart, and it’s helping us a lot.”
Saleh’s brilliant game planning and intense teaching style—combined with his past success—have his players fully bought in.
“You’ll never go into any game with the same game plan (as previously used),” safety Ji’Ayir Brown said. “He knows the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and figures out how to attack them.”
With Saleh back at the helm, the 49ers’ defense looks rejuvenated and determined to help fuel another playoff push. As the team battles through injuries and adversity, Robert Saleh’s presence might be key to the 49ers remaining in contention.
Click here to read Silver’s entire feature at The Athletic.
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