Robert Saleh, who ran the Niners' defense from 2017 to 2020, is heading back to San Francisco for the same role after a three-plus-year stint as Jets coach.

The San Francisco 49ers will fill their vacant defensive coordinator position with a familiar face. Robert Saleh will return to lead the team’s defense after a tenure as the

Robert Saleh, who was fired by the Jets during the season, was hired by the 49ers for second stint as the team’s defensive coordinator on Friday night.

Saleh was fired as the Jets’ coach five games into this season and is now back with the 49ers, where he made his name in the NFL.

Saleh was fired midway through this past season in New York, but the Jets had a strong defense under his tenure.

The 49ers are going all-in for a Robert Saleh reunion. The former New York Jets head coach has an offer on the table from San Francisco to become the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL, according to The Athletic’s Matt Barrows.

When Saleh left the 49ers for the Jets after the 2020 season, the 49ers knew linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans was going to step into that role and he did so with rousing success. He wound up only working as the 49ers’ DC for two years before landing the head coaching job with the Houston Texans.

Patience has been rewarded.The 49ers are hiring Robert Saleh as their defensive coordinator according to The Athletic. For the last week, it was a constant back-and-forth whether or not Saleh would be back with the 49ers.