The San Francisco 49ers entered the offseason expecting continuity on defense, but that plan changed quickly. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is set to leave the organization to become the next head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
For San Francisco, the move carries an unusual consequence. Unlike Saleh’s first departure in 2021, when he left to lead the New York Jets, the 49ers will not receive any compensatory draft picks this time.
Under NFL rules governing minority coach incentives, teams qualify for draft compensation only if the coach or executive spent multiple seasons with the organization before being hired away. Saleh returned to the 49ers for the 2025 season following his tenure with the Jets, leaving San Francisco short of that threshold and without draft relief.
Saleh previously served as the 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2020, a stretch that included a Super Bowl LIV appearance. His return last season came after a three-year run as the Jets head coach from 2021 to 2024, where he finished 20-36 before being dismissed.
With his exit now official, San Francisco must once again begin the process of identifying a new defensive leader as it reshapes its coaching staff for the coming year.
Titans turn to Saleh for franchise reset
Tennessee’s interest in Saleh accelerated after an in-person interview on Monday, and the sides are now finalizing a deal that will make him the franchise’s next head coach. He steps into one of the league’s most challenging situations following a 3-14 season in 2025, tied for the worst record in the NFL alongside the Raiders, Jets, and Cardinals.
Saleh replaces Mike McCoy, who served as interim head coach after Brian Callahan was fired last October. He becomes the 20th head coach of the franchise, which relocated from Houston to Nashville in 1997 and adopted the Titans name.
The 46-year-old coach brings a long defensive resume that dates back to 2002 and includes a Super Bowl XLVIII title with the Seattle Seahawks as a defensive quality control coach.
His recent work in San Francisco stood out despite injuries to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, with the defense playing a key role in the team’s playoff run before a divisional-round loss to Seattle.
In Tennessee, Saleh’s immediate focus will be twofold. He will be tasked with developing 23-year-old quarterback Cam Ward, who threw for 3,169 yards with 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a rookie, while also rebuilding a defense that ranked 28th in points allowed per game.
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