Wait, didn’t he just get back? Honestly, the NFL coaching carousel moves so fast it’ll give you whiplash. Just about a year ago, Robert Saleh was the guy the New York Jets kicked to the curb five games into the 2024 season. Now, the buzz around the league is that Robert Saleh reportedly has a contract offer from the 49ers to keep him in Santa Clara for the long haul.
He’s currently the defensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan brought him home in January 2025 after firing Nick Sorensen, and basically, it was the best move the Niners made all year. Even with a roster that looked like a hospital ward—Nick Bosa and Fred Warner both dealt with massive injuries—Saleh still coached them to a top-10 scoring finish.
NFL insider Mike Silver and others are now signaling that San Francisco isn't interested in a "one-and-done" reunion. They want to lock him down.
The "One-and-Done" Fear is Real
Look, everyone knows Saleh wants to be a head coach again. You don’t just lose that itch. Currently, there are about nine vacancies across the league as of January 2026. The Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans have already scheduled interviews with him for this coming Sunday.
San Francisco knows this. John Lynch isn't sitting around waiting to lose his defensive mastermind to a division rival or an AFC powerhouse. The reported contract offer is likely a massive "stay-put" incentive, potentially making him one of the highest-paid coordinators in football history.
Why the 49ers are Desperate to Keep Him
The 49ers' defense this year was a bit of a miracle. They finished 11th in points allowed. That sounds fine, right? But check the context. They were dead last in sacks (16) and 31st in pass-rush win rate.
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Usually, that’s a recipe for a 4-13 season. Instead, Saleh pivoted. He ran Cover 4 at the second-highest rate in the league and used two-high safeties on over half the defensive snaps. He basically told opposing quarterbacks, "We can't hit you, but we aren't letting you throw it over our heads." It worked. They allowed the fourth-fewest explosive plays in the NFL.
If he leaves, that institutional knowledge walks out the door. Again.
The Teams Trying to Steal Him Away
It’s not just a two-team race. The list of teams requesting interviews is getting crowded:
- Arizona Cardinals: They just fired Jonathan Gannon and need someone who knows the NFC West inside and out.
- Baltimore Ravens: With the possible departure of their own staff, Saleh’s "energy and scheme" fit the Baltimore brand perfectly.
- Las Vegas Raiders: Rumors suggest they have him at the top of their list to replace Pete Carroll.
The Raiders' opening is particularly spicy. They have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and over $100 million in cap space. For a guy like Saleh, who got burned by the Jets' lack of stability, that kind of resources could be tempting.
What the Contract Offer Likely Looks Like
NFL contracts for coordinators aren't always public, but we can read between the lines. If the 49ers are making a formal offer now, during the playoffs, it’s a "poison pill" for other teams.
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They are likely offering a multi-year extension with a salary that rivals what some lower-tier head coaches make. It’s the "Vic Fangio" or "Jim Schwartz" model. You pay the guy so well that he doesn't feel the need to jump at a bad head coaching job just for the paycheck.
Shanahan recently said, "He was definitely our first choice... I was glad he stuck with his word." That doesn't sound like a guy who wants to go through another search for a DC in February.
The "Beef" Factor
Interestingly, Shanahan joked that if Saleh hadn't come back in 2025, they "would've had beef." They are close. That relationship matters. Saleh knows that in San Francisco, he has a roster that can win a Super Bowl the moment Bosa and Warner are 100% healthy. In Las Vegas or Nashville? He might be starting from scratch again.
Is He Staying or Going?
If you're a Niners fan, you're sweating. Usually, when a guy is this hot on the market, he's gone. But Saleh is 46 now. He’s seen the dark side of being a head coach in a bad organization. He might value the stability of the 49ers over the prestige of being a "HC" for a team with no quarterback.
Honestly, it probably comes down to the Ravens job. If Baltimore offers him the keys, it's hard to see him saying no. They have Lamar Jackson. But if the Ravens go with a guy like Brian Flores or Jim Schwartz, the 49ers' offer starts looking a lot more attractive.
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What Happens Next for the Defense
If Saleh accepts the extension, expect the 49ers to be aggressive in free agency to fix that pass rush. They can't rely on "scheme" forever. They need bodies.
Should he walk, San Francisco will likely look at internal candidates or perhaps a veteran like Brandon Staley if he's available. But let’s be real: replacing Robert Saleh is a nightmare. He’s the heartbeat of that sideline.
Keep a close eye on the news cycle following the Sunday interviews. If no "agreement in principle" is announced by Tuesday, there’s a very high chance Saleh inks that extension and stays in the Bay Area.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story:
- Monitor the Sunday Interview Reports: If Saleh spends more than four hours in a virtual or in-person meeting with the Ravens, the "offer" from the 49ers might not be enough.
- Watch the 49ers Comp Pick Status: If Saleh leaves, the 49ers would actually gain two compensatory third-round picks. Sometimes, teams "allow" a coach to leave specifically to harvest those picks for a rebuild.
- Check Defensive Staff Movement: If Saleh starts bringing in "his guys" for lower-level roles in SF, it’s a signal he’s signed the extension and is building for 2026.