49ers Hiring Robert Saleh As Defensive Coordinator

Adam Caplan of ESPN is reporting that former Jaguars LBs coach Robert Saleh is expected to be hired by the 49ers as their new defensive coordinator.

• Caplan adds that the 49ers won’t be adding a co-defensive coordinator, which had been mentioned as a possibility previously, so Saleh will be fully in charge of the team’s defense under HC Kyle Shanahan.
• Matt Maiocco confirms that Saleh will be hired as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.

Saleh was expected to join the Chargers’ defensive coaching staff as their linebackers coach. However, it became clear that Saleh wasn’t going to be hired by Los Angles after he was later linked to the 49ers’ defensive coordinator position.

The Chargers officially announced that they’ve hired former Falcons DC Richard Smith for their linebackers coaching job.

Saleh, 38, began his NFL coaching career with the Texans in 2005 as a defensive intern. He eventually worked his way up to assistant linebackers coach before he took over as the Seahawks defensive quality control coach in 2011.

The Jaguars later hired Saleh as their linebackers coach where he remained for the past three seasons.