Robert Saleh returning to the Bay Area has one San Francisco 49ers Pro Bowler excited about the reunion.
As one of three 49ers represented at the 2025 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner shared his thoughts on Saleh returning as the defensive coordinator for a second stint.
"It means a lot," Warner said, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan. "Obviously, coach Saleh has been amazing for us and for myself as a young player. So it will be interesting, being the old guy now, myself, being with him again. It's going to be fun though."
The 49ers defense under former DC Nick Sorensen ranked eighth in opponent yards per game (317.4) but was 29th in opponent points per game in 2024. San Francisco moved on from Sorensen after the campaign and brought a familiar face back into the building with Saleh.
Saleh's 2024 season didn't go as planned. The New York Jets fired Saleh midseason after a 2-3 start to the season, ending his stint as the head coach. However, Saleh's defensive units found success when he was at the helm. During his span with Gang Green in 2022 and 2023, the Jets defense ranked first in passing yards allowed per game (178.9).
Saleh did draw interest around the league to be a head coach again as he took interviews with the Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars. But he eventually returned to the 49ers' coaching staff.
Warner, who had his first Pro Bowl nod under Saleh in 2020, believes the defensive coordinator could right the ship after San Francisco's 6-11 campaign.
"Just getting back to being dominant," Warner said. "That's just what I'm used to, and it's going to take a lot of hard work and effort, but I know we are capable of doing it."
Only time will tell if Saleh's return to San Francisco will move the club forward after an injury-plagued season. But Warner has faith in Saleh that he can make the 49ers defense a force in 2025.
