49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has managed to pivot around the massive blows San Francisco has taken in losing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner for the 2025 NFL season.
After being fired as the New York Jets’ head coach last season, Saleh returned to the 49ers a few months later taking his former position as Kyle Shanahan’s defensive coordinator. He was asked by Josina Anderson on “The Exhibit” if he would do anything differently if he was a head coach again.
“There’s a lot of things I’d do differently,” Saleh said. “One of the biggest things I’m going to do is I’m going to call.”
Saleh told the Jets organization in his first press conference that he would not handle the play-calling. Instead choosing to collaborate with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was named then interim-head coach when he got fired.
“When you’re immersed in the game as a play-caller, it brings out the emotion in me and gets me excited and connected to all the players and keeps me connected to the game a little bit more,” Saleh explained.
Saleh’s return to Shanahan’s coaching staff is what 49ers fans claimed to be ‘most thankful for’ so far this season, and Shanahan admitted that certain factors affected his play-making decisions in San Francisco’s 26-8 win against Cleveland in Week 13.
There’s a chance Saleh could pull a one-and-done season with the 49ers, as his name is likely to be favorited among teams in the market for a new head coach. Until then, his success in navigating Shanahan’s defense through the injury bug remains top priority going into the playoffs.
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