Former 49ers DC Robert Saleh could return to San Francisco after his Jets tenure, with Kyle Shanahan eyeing a familiar leader to restore defensive dominance.

The 49ers are “expected” to offer their open defensive coordinator job to Saleh, according to Josina Anderson, a position he held with the franchise before becoming head coach of the Jets. First, however, Saleh will meet with the Jaguars and Raiders next week about their head coaching vacancies.

So far, the San Francisco 49ers have interviewed former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Detroit Lions defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend for the team's vacant defensive coordinator position.

The San Francisco 49ers might be turning back the clock by interviewing former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh for their open defensive coordinator position. Saleh left the exact role with the 49ers following the 2020 season to become the Jets coach.

The 49ers could have a Robert Saleh reunion happening very soon, as the organization starts to narrow down the list of replacement DC options.

Townsend is a former longtime Steelers cornerback who has managed secondaries across the NFL over the last decade. He has been a defensive backs coach for the Titans (2016-17), Giants (2018, assistant), Bears (2019-21), Jaguars (2022-23) and Lions (2024). The last two stops have included duties as the defensive passing game coordinator.

The San Francisco 49ers are considering bringing back their former defensive coordinator. The team announced on Thursday that it had completed an

The San Francisco 49ers began their search for a new defensive coordinator by interviewing Robert Saleh for a second stint at the job and Detroit Lions assistant Deshea Townsend.

The San Francisco 49ers are continuing a search for their next defensive coordinator, as they’ve currently held two interviews for the position: former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Detroit Lions defensive passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend.