Robert Saleh’s second run with the San Francisco 49ers didn’t last long, but it clearly left an impression.
Saleh moved on this offseason to become the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, ending a brief return to the 49ers after the organization brought him back for 2025. It was always understood that his stay could be temporary. Whether it was this year or next, the expectation was that he would eventually leave to take another shot at running his own team.
Even so, the 49ers were comfortable welcoming him back, and Saleh sounds genuinely appreciative of that decision. In a conversation with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, he praised the people around the building and the way the season unfolded.
"The resiliency of the organization and the players, the locker room, Kyle, John. There were so many different times last year where all of us could have just said, 'Screw it, it's over.' And, you know, credit to the Tatum Bethunes and all the different players that had to step up through all the injuries and grind and take extra reps and, you know, Sigle stepping in for 5 games before, Malik came back.
"So just all the way up and down the roster, all the youth that got so much learning experience, but, you know, it was a really, really cool year in terms of resiliency. And again, credit to Kyle and just the way he operates ... with his messaging and all that.
"You know, it just shows that if you just stick together -- I mean, shoot, Mac Jones stepping in and having a hell of a start to the season for Brock [Purdy]. But, awesome organization, awesome people, and, that would probably be the biggest thing I'd take away."
That kind of praise makes it easy to imagine Saleh circling back to San Francisco someday if he ever becomes available again. If Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are still steering the ship, the fit would make sense. And if the 49ers ever need a defensive coordinator again, that door would seem wide open.
For now, though, Saleh has a bigger job in front of him. The hope is that his second chance as a head coach goes much better than his first with the New York Jets.
The 49ers, meanwhile, aren’t in any hurry to bring him back because they want him to succeed where he is. That respect, more than anything, is what keeps the connection alive.
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