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.

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.

The 49ers have brought back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator after close to four seasons away as the Jets' head coach.

Robert Saleh has been a popular name mentioned as a potential candidate to succeed Aaron Glenn as the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions. The former New York Jets head coach is a Detroit native who was a finalist for becoming the Lions’ head coach when the team hired Dan Campbell.

The 49ers already nailed the first step to bouncing back next season by hiring Robert Saleh to rebuild the defense.

Robert Saleh is back in the place where he truly made a name for himself as one of the best defensive coaches in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers announced on Friday night that they have hired Saleh as their defensive coordinator,

Robert Saleh is back as defensive coordinator of the 49ers, and all is right with the world. For now, anyway. Coach Kyle Shanahan has cycled through DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen after Saleh’s departure following the 2020 season to become head coach of the New York Jets.