Will former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh bring a coveted free agent with him to the San Francisco 49ers?

Saleh, who was fired in October as the New York Jets head coach five games into his fourth season, generated interest on the head-coaching front and was seen as one of the frontrunners for the Jacksonville Jaguars job. He also interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

Reflecting on Robert Saleh's time with the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead explains what made him an effective coach

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner didn't hide his excitement for the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but there were things he didn't say that illustrate what Saleh's return means for the 49ers' defense.

Later on Thursday, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen had a change of heart, the Jacksonville Jaguars quickly moved to hire him as head coach and Saleh, who told Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch that he’d return to the 49ers if he didn’t get a head-coaching job, stayed true to his promise.

Robert Saleh, who ran the Niners' defense from 2017 to 2020, is heading back to San Francisco for the same role after a three-plus-year stint as Jets coach.

San Francisco 49ers On SI. Will 49ers DC Robert Saleh Draft a Linebacker this Year? Posted: February 7, 2025 \. More for You

The defensive line would be a good place to start, as San Fran's usually ferocious defense had a hard time finishing at the QB in 2024. The 49ers closed the year with 37 total sac