49ers hire Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator, hoping reunion will restore dominance [View all]

The 49ers hired Saleh, they announced Friday night, to oversee a defense he helped build into one of the NFL’s best before it slipped well below its lofty standard during their 6-11 season in 2024. Saleh, 45, who became the Jets head coach following his four-season tenure with the 49ers from 2017-20, will be charged with restoring the defense’s past dominance.

In 2017, Saleh inherited a unit that ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed during a 2-14 season. And he gradually helped build a beast. The 49ers ranked 24th, 13th, second and fifth, respectively, in that category with Saleh, who became well known for his high-energy sideline celebrations and all-gas-no-brakes ethos.

In his second stint with the 49ers, Saleh will inherit a unit that allowed the fourth-most points (436) in the NFL last season under rookie coordinator Nick Sorensen. Shanahan promoted Sorensen to the role last year after firing Steve Wilks, who also had a one-and-done tenure.

It’s possible Saleh, who went 20-36 with the Jets before he was fired in October, could be a short-timer in his second stint with the 49ers given his interest in getting another shot as a head coach. He returned to the team after he was a candidate for three head-coaching openings he didn’t land, interviewing with the Cowboys, Raiders and Jaguars.

More (paywall): https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/49ers/article/49ers-appear-verge-hiring-robert-saleh-defensive-20052645.php

Now comes the tough part: revamping the roster. 49ers need defensive tackles. Good ones. And depth.