At a Glance
- The Tennessee Titans are finalizing a deal to hire 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as head coach.
- Saleh previously coached the New York Jets from 2021 until his October 2024 firing.
- San Francisco will receive no draft-pick compensation because Saleh was with the team for only one season.
- Why it matters: The move strips the 49ers of the architect behind their No. 11-scoring defense right before another championship push.
Robert Saleh’s second tenure as 49ers defensive coordinator appears over after one season, with the Titans moving to make him their next head coach less than 48 hours after San Francisco’s playoff exit.
Deal Nearly Done
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday night that Tennessee and Saleh are “working to finalize” an agreement. Sources told Schefter that Saleh spent Monday in Tennessee, and “the two sides impressed each other enough to move forward together.”
The courtship unfolded quickly:
- Saleh interviewed with Baltimore and Arizona earlier in the cycle
- He met Tennessee on Monday
- News of the pending deal broke the same evening
No Compensation for 49ers
San Francisco will not receive draft-pick compensation, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. NFL rules require a minority candidate to be with a team for two full seasons before a hiring club must send draft capital. Saleh re-joined the 49ers in February 2025, so he falls short by one year.
Defense Outperformed Expectations
Despite season-ending injuries to stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, Saleh’s unit finished:
- 11th in points allowed
- Key role in pushing the 49ers to the divisional round
On locker clean-out day, Warner addressed the looming departure candidly: “It would suck a lot. You know of course I always think about Saleh as the man and the relationship we have. And of course, I want him to have the opportunity again. But selfishly of course, I want him to stay here as well and have a chance at going and winning this thing next season.”
Saleh’s Coaching Journey
| Year | Role | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2017-2020 | Defensive coordinator | 49ers |
| 2021-Oct 2024 | Head coach | Jets |
| Nov 2024-2025 | Consultant | Packers |
| 2025 | Defensive coordinator | 49ers |
| 2026 | Head coach (pending) | Titans |
The Jets hired Saleh after the 2020 season. He compiled an 18-33 record before being dismissed four games into the 2024 season. Green Bay brought him on as a consultant for the remainder of that year, after which he returned to Santa Clara for a second stint running the defense.
Key Takeaways
- Saleh’s imminent exit leaves the 49ers searching for their third defensive coordinator in four seasons
- The timing stings: negotiations heated up two days after San Francisco’s 41-6 loss in Seattle ended its postseason
- No draft picks change hands because Saleh’s 2025 tenure lasted only one season
- Players, especially Warner, publicly lobbied for Saleh to stay but understand the lure of another head-coaching shot
