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Robert Saleh Signals Patience on Head-Coaching Return as 49ers Defense Surges

League reporting still positions him as a leading 2026 candidate.

Overview

  • The 49ers defensive coordinator told ESPN he is not in a hurry to be a head coach again, saying he loves his current role and that his ambition is not desperation.
  • San Francisco has clinched a playoff berth, and the defense is a top-10 scoring unit at 20.8 points allowed per game despite injuries to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
  • Since Saleh’s January return, the defense has improved from 28th in points allowed in 2024 to 11th through Week 15 of this season.
  • A league source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Saleh should be a strong candidate for multiple head-coaching jobs in 2026.
  • He interviewed last offseason with the Cowboys, Raiders, and Jaguars, and as of Week 16 the Titans and Giants are the only teams with head-coaching vacancies.