The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back Robert Saleh for a second stint as defensive coordinator after a failed tenure as head coach of the New York Jets, a person familiar with the choice told The Associated Press.

Robert Saleh is returning to the 49ers. The ex-Jets coach will be the defensive coordinator for San Francisco again.

The San Francisco 49ers have long established their strong defensive identity, and with Robert Saleh back at the helm

Robert Saleh, who was fired by the Jets during the season, was hired by the 49ers for second stint as the team’s defensive coordinator on Friday night.

Robert Saleh, who coordinated the Niners' defense from 2017-20, is heading back to San Francisco for the same role following a three-plus-year stint as Jets head coach, a source told ESPN.

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.

Saleh had interviewed for three head coaching positions but had committed to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch that, should be not get another head coaching job, he would return to San Francisco as defensive coordinator,

Saleh was fired midway through this past season in New York, but the Jets had a strong defense under his tenure.

The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back Robert Saleh for a second stint as defensive coordinator after a failed tenure as head coach of the New York Jets.

The San Francisco 49ers' patience appears to have paid off. Head coach Kyle Shanahan opted to wait out the latest head coach hiring cycle, holding out hope for his preferred defensive coordinator candidate, Robert Saleh. This gamble could have backfired if Saleh had landed a...

The San Francisco 49ers on Friday night made a significant upgrade to their coaching staff when they officially hired defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but that can't be their only big defensive move this offseason.