Robert Saleh is back in the NFL spotlight-and not just because of what he’s saying, but because of what his defense is doing on the field.
Now in his second stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Saleh has quietly helped engineer one of the league’s most resilient defenses. Despite a laundry list of injuries, the 49ers rank eighth in the NFL in points allowed-no small feat when you're constantly plugging holes and adjusting on the fly. That kind of performance doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by teams already scanning the horizon for their next head coach.
Saleh, of course, has been down this road before. He spent three seasons as the head coach of the New York Jets, finishing with a 20-36 record before being let go in 2024.
But rather than sit out, he returned to familiar territory in San Francisco this past January, stepping back into the defensive coordinator role he once excelled in. And now, with the Niners sitting at 9-4 and firmly in the playoff mix, Saleh’s name is starting to buzz again in coaching circles.
When asked about his interest in returning to the head coaching ranks, Saleh didn’t dodge the question-but he didn’t campaign either.
“We all want to get to the top of our profession,” he said during an appearance on The Exhibit Show. “But honestly, I’m just in this space right now where I’m solely focused on trying to do my best for the guys here.”
That may sound like coach-speak, but there’s a quiet conviction behind it. Saleh knows what it takes to build a culture and lead a locker room-he’s done it before, even if the win-loss column didn’t always reflect the effort. And now, with a top-10 defense under his watch and a playoff push in full swing, he’s showing once again that he can get a group of players to buy in, stay disciplined, and perform under pressure.
“It’s not a secret,” Saleh added. “We all want to be at the top of our profession and show that we can achieve greatness at that level. But I say this with great humility-my focus is here, just trying our best to get to the playoffs and see if we can make some damage and host a Super Bowl here in our building.”
That last part? That’s not just a throwaway line. The 49ers are very much in the hunt, and if this defense keeps trending the way it has, they could be a problem come January.
NFL insider Dianna Russini believes Saleh will be in demand once the coaching carousel starts spinning.
“I know he wants to coach again as a head coach,” Russini said during a recent appearance on Wake Up Barstool. “Look, the Jets situation was what it was.
I think there were a lot of factors why he didn’t have success, but I also think he learned a lot. So I could see him getting some opportunities-definitely some interviews.”
And the timing might be right. Two head coaching jobs are already open: the Giants have moved on from Brian Daboll, and the Titans parted ways with Brian Callahan. More vacancies are expected to follow as teams evaluate their direction heading into the offseason.
Saleh, meanwhile, is letting his work speak for itself. His defense is flying around, forcing mistakes, and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. That kind of production, especially under adversity, tends to catch the attention of front offices looking for a leader who can stabilize a franchise.
For now, Saleh insists he’s locked in on San Francisco’s playoff push. But make no mistake-his name will be in the mix when teams start dialing for interviews. And based on what he’s done with this 49ers defense, he’s earned the right to pick up the phone.