"Back where he belongs!": NFL fans cheer as Robert Saleh locks in as $6,800,000,000 franchise's defensive coordinator 

Robert Saleh has rejoined the San Francisco 49ers as the defensive coordinator for the 2025 NFL season. He had previously worked for the team, which has a value of $6.8 billion (via Forbes), as their defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020.

Saleh later moved and joined the New York Jets as their head coach and worked for them from 2021 to 2024. In 2024, he was the offensive consultant for the Green Bay Packers and in 2025 he rejoined the 49ers as their defensive coordinator.

The NFL shared the news on X on Friday along with the caption:

"49ers hire Robert Saleh as their Defensive Coordinator. (via @TomPelissero)"

Fans joined the comment section to cheer for Robert Saleh's return to the 49ers.

"Back where he belongs! This is good for him," a fan said.

"That's an interesting choice," another fan said.

However, some fans were critical of the decision and shared their disappointment.

"I’m no longer a 49ers fan after this move," one fan said.

"This is the worst thing that possibly could have happened to this team," another fan said.

Meanwhile, others showed their support for Saleh.

"One of the best coordinators in the league, amazing rehire," one fan said.

"It was expected and now they make it official. It's a good hire and a good move by Saleh to go to a team with a real possibility to get in the Playoffs," another fan said.

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49ers welcome back Robert Saleh with a four-word strong message

The 49ers welcomed Robert Saleh back as their defensive coordinator by sharing a post on their Instagram account. They posted a welcome-back message with a four-word caption, writing:

"ALL GAS, NO BRAKE 😤"

The hiring of the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers came 16 days after the team fired Nick Sorensen on Jan. 7. The team has constantly changed its defensive coordinators after Saleh left the position in 2021.

DeMeco Ryans replaced Saleh in 2021, but he also left the 49ers after he was hired by the Houston Texans as their head coach in the 2022 season. Later, Steve Wilks took over the position, but he was replaced by Nick Sorensen.

Robert Saleh had been a strong candidate for the head coach position of the Las Vegas and Jacksonville Jaguars teams for the 2025 season. However, he finally decided to rejoin the San Francisco 49ers.