49ers Focused on Playoff Push, Not Coaching Carousel, as Robert Saleh’s Future Looms
SANTA CLARA - With the 49ers surging toward the postseason, Robert Saleh isn’t spending much time thinking about his future - and neither should fans. The defensive coordinator has been here before, having already navigated the NFL’s head coaching interview circuit twice.
He landed the Jets job once, and last offseason he met with the Jaguars, Raiders and Cowboys. Now, with San Francisco sitting at 11-4 and eyeing the NFC’s top seed, Saleh’s priorities are firmly rooted in the now.
“We’ve got the playoffs,” Saleh said Wednesday, as the Niners began prep for their Sunday night clash with the 11-4 Bears at Levi’s Stadium. “I hope we’ve got five more home games.”
That’s not just coach-speak - it’s a reflection of where this team is mentally. Focused.
Grounded. Hungry.
Saleh hasn’t hidden his desire to be a head coach again. He recently told ESPN the fire is still burning, but it’s not consuming him.
“The desire is there,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s not desperation.”
That’s the kind of perspective that comes from experience. Saleh went 20-36 in three-plus seasons with the Jets before being dismissed four games into the 2024 campaign.
He knows firsthand how important organizational stability is - and how rare it can be. Coaching vacancies often signal dysfunction, and some of the likely openings this offseason don’t exactly scream stability.
The Giants and Titans, both sitting near the bottom of the standings, are working with interim head coaches in Mike Kafka and Mike McCoy, respectively. Other jobs could open up in Arizona, Cleveland, Las Vegas and Miami. But after his time under Woody Johnson in New York, it’s fair to wonder whether Saleh would be eager to jump into another rebuild.
Now, if one of the league’s long-tenured titans - John Harbaugh in Baltimore, Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, or Andy Reid in Kansas City - were to step aside, that’s a different conversation. But for now, Saleh is locked in on helping the 49ers chase a Super Bowl.
And if he does move on? The 49ers appear ready.
Gus Bradley: The Quiet Contingency Plan
Saleh is the fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons for San Francisco, following DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks, and Nick Sorensen. That kind of turnover would rattle most franchises. Not this one.
Enter Gus Bradley.
When the 49ers brought in Bradley as assistant head coach with a defensive focus, it raised some eyebrows. But it’s looking more and more like a smart move - maybe even a proactive one.
Bradley and Saleh go way back. Saleh was a quality control coach in Seattle in 2011 when Bradley ran the defense.
Then, when Bradley became the Jaguars’ head coach in 2014, he brought Saleh along as his linebackers coach.
That bond still runs deep.
“Gus is like a second Pops to me,” Saleh said. **“He lights up the room.
He unifies buildings, he unifies people. People gravitate to his personality and infectious smile.”
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Bradley’s resume speaks for itself. He’s coordinated defenses for the Colts, Raiders, and Chargers.
But what’s just as valuable is the energy and perspective he brings to the locker room. He’s become something of a team philosopher, delivering pregame talks that are as unpredictable as they are impactful.
One night he’s talking about fishing with his son, the next he’s telling a story about a woman getting pulled over in Alabama. They always circle back to football - eventually.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t messing with the formula.
“I asked Gus to do one of his stories, it hit, the guys loved it,” Shanahan said. **“I kind of stick with things that work, and he’s undefeated.
I don’t take people off when they’re on a heater.” **
Locker Room Leaders Weigh In
Tight end George Kittle, never one to hide his enthusiasm, lit up when talking about both Saleh and Bradley.
“I love Robert Saleh, the energy and fire that he brings every day,” Kittle said. **“And Gus Bradley, he gives the greatest pump-up speeches the night before every game.
They don’t really have anything to do with football. They’re fun with a good point at the end.”
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Kittle sees in Bradley a kindred spirit - someone who genuinely loves the game and brings that joy to work every day. That kind of energy is contagious.
Running back Christian McCaffrey echoed the sentiment, calling Bradley “the most unbelievable speaker I’ve ever heard when it comes to fun pump-up speeches.” He wouldn’t give away any of the stories - “if you know, you know,” he said - but the impact is clear.
Injury Watch: Kittle’s Status Up in the Air
Kittle’s status for Sunday night remains uncertain. He’s dealing with an ankle sprain that worsened during the game, despite posting a monster stat line: seven catches, 115 yards and a touchdown. Shanahan said Kittle “has a chance” to suit up against the Bears, but he didn’t practice Wednesday during the team’s half-speed session.
Edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos also sat out for maintenance on his knee, while cornerback Renardo Green (neck) and rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee) were limited. Pearsall’s participation is a good sign after he missed the trip to Indianapolis.
Gifford Earns Pro Bowl Nod
Linebacker Luke Gifford got some well-deserved recognition this week, earning a spot in the 2026 Pro Bowl Games. He joins a loaded 49ers group that includes McCaffrey, Kittle, Trent Williams, Kyle Juszczyk and long-snapper Jon Weeks. Return man Skyy Moore was named an alternate.
Gifford said he had a feeling the honor might be coming, based on postgame conversations with special teams players around the league.
“We don’t have a ton of scheme, but what we do is play fast and cut it loose,” Gifford said. **“That’s been (special teams coordinator Brant Boyer’s) message since he got here.
No matter what, we’re going to go gas pedal down as fast as we can and play violent and physical.” **
Notables from Around the Roster
- Veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, who was elevated from the practice squad, looked solid in his 10 snaps and didn’t suffer any setbacks with his calf injury, according to Shanahan.
- Rookie running back Jordan James continues to impress in practice, and while he was active against Indianapolis, Shanahan hasn’t committed to his status for the Bears game.
- Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk posted an apology video on his YouTube channel after a clip surfaced showing a car speeding near Levi’s Stadium. While Aiyuk’s face wasn’t visible, he took responsibility.
“Sorry y’all, my car content won’t come with speeding anymore,” he wrote. **“Was praying with my son tonight and wouldn’t want anybody else to miss out on an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones!
My apologies.” **
The 49ers are locked in on the present - and with good reason. The playoffs are looming, the roster is humming, and the coaching staff, from Saleh to Bradley, is keeping the locker room tight and focused. Whether Saleh stays or goes, San Francisco looks well-positioned to keep rolling.