San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner is excited for a defensive renaissance under Robert Saleh.
The 49ers announced last week that Saleh had been hired back as defensive coordinator after a disastrous 2024 season as head coach of the New York Jets which saw him fired after a 2-3 start. Saleh led the 49ers defense to a Super Bowl appearance after the 2019 season as defensive coordinator, and his defenses were ranked in the top five in the last two years of his first stint. Warner said he is looking forward to returning to that dominance now that Saleh is back.
Warner said he spoke to Saleh on FaceTime, and that Saleh was excited to be back with the team. “We have an opportunity to do something special this year,” Warner said.
The linebacker specified what that something special was. “Just getting back to being dominant,” he 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.”
“It’s huge,” Bosa told the outlet. “Familiar face, a guy that I’ve missed. Kind of didn’t know how good we had it when he was there.
“He’s a great person and an awesome coach, so I’m excited,” he said. “Everyone loves him as a guy.”
Bosa also said that head coach Kyle Shanahan was probably very happy to get Saleh back in the fold. “I know Kyle, I talked to him before I left and he was excited to try to pursue him. I haven’t talked to Kyle but I’m sure he’s resting easy.”
Saleh spent four years as defensive coordinator of the 49ers from 2017-2020, leading dominant defenses in 2019 and 2020. In 2019, the Niners’ defense was second in the league in yards allowed and eighth in points allowed, seventh in rushing touchdowns allowed, and first in passing yards allowed, all on their way to a berth in Super Bowl LIV. In 2020, the defense was fifth in yards allowed, seventh in rushing yards, fourth in rushing touchdowns, and fourth in passing yards despite a 6-10 finish.
As head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-2024, Saleh continued to put up dominant defenses. His defenses were fourth in yards in 2022 and third in both 2023 and 2024. The Jets’ defense was top-five in passing yards and touchdowns allowed all three of those years. Despite the defensive success, the Jets never posted a record better than 7-10 in four years. Saleh was fired in September after a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 5.
The two defensive leaders both agreed that apart from statistical success, the biggest thing Saleh provides is infectious energy.
“It’s contagious,” Warner said. “You see it. ... That was a big part of why we were so successful, and obviously the teaching portion of it all, and making sure that we are all on the same page. It’s going to be good to get him back.
“Super excited, fired up,” Bosa said. “The fire that you see on the sideline every game is what he was like on FaceTime.”
Bosa and Warner also believed that Saleh’s return would help woo teammate Dre Greenlaw, who is set to become a free agent this offseason.
“Since the day it all ended, [bringing Greenlaw back has] been my goal,” said Warner, who was drafted by Saleh in 2018. “I’ll let [the front office] handle that and hopefully we can keep him.”
