Saleh worked as head coach Kyle Shanahan's first DC with the 49ers from 2017-2020 before becoming the Jets head coach in 2021

Robert Saleh will be on the San Francisco 49ers’ sideline this upcoming season. The 49ers are set to bring back the former New York Jets head coach.

Saleh is headed back to San Francisco, returning as the team’s defensive coordinator, TheAthletic.com reports Thursday night.

Robert Saleh is viewed as the favorite to be the next Jaguars head coach, as he landed in Jacksonville for an interview.

It’s a wild turn that suddenly put Saleh in a position where he’s unlikely to land a head coaching job. For the entire process the 49ers have essentially been banking on Saleh not getting a lead job anywhere and re-joining San Francisco as their defensive coordinator.

The Bucs’ misfortune would be the 49ers’ gain since Saleh appears lined up to take the 49ers DC job if he doesn’t land a head coaching gig. He also had interviews lined up with the Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, but his name hasn’t been tied as heavily to those clubs as it has to the Jaguars.

In the crazy world that is the Jacksonville Jaguars, Liam Coen is back in the hunt and others may emerge as well. But there is still confusion with the coaching situation as it regards Robert Saleh, according to a pair of posts on X.

Robert Saleh appears to be heading back to a familiar place. The ex-Jets head coach is expected to become the next defensive coordinator of the 49ers, The Athletic reported Thursday night. If a deal is completed,

The Jaguars have an opportunity to recover from a challenging week by securing a strong candidate to lead the team.

Robert Saleh apparently isn't getting a second chance as a head coach in this hiring cycle. Saleh is headed back to San Francisco, returning as the team's defensive coordinator, TheAthletic.com reports Thursday night.