Dearborn native rejoins 49ers as defensive coordinator

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 19: New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh watches the play during the New England Patriots vs. New York Jets game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 19, 2024. (P

Robert Saleh, a product of Dearborn and a former head coach of the New York Jets, is returning to San Francisco as defensive coordinator. He was the team’s head coach from 2017 to 2020, during which he made it to the Super Bowl.

Saleh spent the final portion of this season with the Green Bay Packers as a “offensive consultant” after being fired by the Jets.

Saleh was the NFL’s first Muslim head coach.

Saleh, who graduated from Fordson High School in 1997, was the head coach of the Jets for more than three seasons. His first head coaching position at any level was that one.

Before joining the Jets, he was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons. He has 23 years of NFL coaching experience.

Saleh made multiple stints in the NFL and NCAA leagues before his time in San Francisco.

Saleh started his football coaching career at MSU in 2002 as an offensive assistant for the Spartans before switching to defense the following year.

After working as a defensive assistant at the University of Georgia and Central Michigan University, he made his NFL debut as an intern for the Houston Texans.

After serving as a defensive assistant and then an assistant linebackers coach, Saleh eventually remained in Houston until the 2010 campaign.

He joined Seattle in 2011 as a defensive quality control assistant, and in February 2014, he helped the Seahawks win the Super Bowl.

After taking over as Jacksonville’s linebackers coach in 2014, he stayed with the Jaguars until 2017 when he relocated to San Francisco.

As a tight end and defensive tackle at Fordson, Saleh received multiple personal honors during his playing career. During his tenure with the team, the Tractors never had a lower-than-6-3 record.