How Robert Saleh has Changed Since his First Stint as 49ers DC

When the 49ers first hired Robert Saleh in 2017, no one really knew who he was.

He came from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who stunk. He was their linebackers coach. And he didn't seem experienced enough for the job. Eventually, he built the 49ers an elite defense and got hired as head coach of the Jets.

Now, he's coming back to the 49ers as a savior. They've fired two defensive coordinators in the past two seasons and they're coming off a miserable 6-11. They need him to right the ship and infuse the team with much-needed energy and enthusiasm which it lost when Saleh went to the Jets and DeMeco Ryans went to the Texans.

So how has Saleh changed since his first stint as the 49ers defensive coordinator?

"I've gone through the head coaching stuff and you learn a lot going through that," Saleh said. "But I'm happy to be back in this chair where I get to coach a little bit more football and not deal with all the administrative stuff that comes with being a head coach. The perspective, I guess, especially, and that's what was exciting about coming back. Just being in a building where I was once a coordinator and now having head coaching experience, to have that global view. So, there's a lot of empathy for understanding what Kyle Shanahan is going through and trying to help him out best I can. But it's just, I guess more experience.”

TRANSLATION: Part of him is jaded now. During his first stint as 49ers DC, he was innocent and undefeated. Now, he has seen the ugly side of the league. He just worked for a terrible organization where he probably felt he couldn't do any actual coaching. He must be so happy to be back where his career took off.