Titans to hire 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as head coach: report

SANTA CLARA – Robert Saleh is again leaving as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator for an NFL head-coaching post, this time with the Tennessee Titans, according to multiple reports Monday night.

Five years ago, Saleh split for the New York Jets, for whom he went 20-36 before being fired five games into the 2024 season.

Saleh interviewed in person with the Titans earlier Monday, and, afterward, the Titans promptly declared him a finalist with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The Titans interviewed 15 candidates.

The most likely candidate to replace Saleh in charge of the 49ers defense is Gus Bradley, who arrived a year ago as Kyle Shanahan’s assistant head coach/defense and often gave team addresses on the eve of games.

As Saleh exited the 49ers’ locker room after Saturday’s 41-6 divisional-round playoff loss at Seattle, he confirmed he was heading for multiple interviews in an NFL coaching cycle where 10 jobs have opened this offseason.

“Just having a guy like Saleh, he was so energetic, coming off when we first met him,” cornerback Deommodore Lenoir said Monday afternoon. “Just playing for him was a blessing just to learn. He’s really a defensive mastermind despite what we had going, us losing games, the last game.”

Saleh interviewed last week virtually with the Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins, the latter of whom announced Monday after they’ve hired Jeff Hafley, who worked under Saleh and on Kyle Shanahan’s 2017-18 staff as the 49ers’ defensive backs coach.

The Titans’ selection of Saleh was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, followed by other outlets. Saleh’s agent, Doug Hendrickson, did not immediately return a message from this news organization.

Saleh reprised his defensive coordinator role with the 49ers this season. He was heralded for juggling a lineup that was steeped in youth and last-minute replacements, especially after injuries took out defensive end Nick Bosa in Week 3 and linebacker Fred Warner in Week 6.

“Saleh definitely has made my knowledge of the game grow more,” defensive end Mykel Williams said. “Just the way he breaks down the game to end the meetings and tell us different tendencies and different things to look for in offenses. I definitely took some things from Saleh. I hope he’s here, but if he’s not it’s the nature of the beast and part of the game.”

Shanahan now must change defensive coordinators for the fifth time in sixth years, after DeMeco Ryans (2021), Steve Wilks (2023), Nick Sorensen (2024), and Saleh (2025).

Saleh will inherit a troubled Titans franchise but one that is led by 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at quarterback, with a new stadium on the 2027 horizon. Brian Callahan, a De La Salle High-Concord graduate, was fired by the Titans after a 1-5 start to this season and a 3-14 record in 2024.

One of the burning questions in his hiring will be who he appoints as offensive coordinator. Klay Kubiak, who got promoted to that role with the 49ers this past season, will not be allowed to leave for a lateral move, Shanahan said after Saturday’s game. Kubiak has interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers for their head-coach vacancies.

General manager Mike Borgonzi and Saleh now must form a successful partnership, such as the one Saleh has admired with the 49ers’ Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.

“Culture to me is always about the people. It’s not the words, it’s the people,” Saleh said last week. “And I think John and Kyle have done an outstanding job staying true to the people they want in this building.

“That goes from coaches, staff members, I mean everybody, including players. And I think when you bring in the type of person you want, the culture will easily form itself, if that makes sense,” Saleh added. “And I think they’ve done a really nice job staying disciplined to that. And that locker room is filled with people built of the right character.”

Saleh, presuming his deal will be finalized with the Titans, will now compete in the AFC South against his former protoge, DeMeco Ryans, the Houston Texans’ coach since 2023. And the Titans will try dethroning Jacksonville Jaguars, whose coach, Liam Coen, got into a verbal spat with Saleh following the Jaguars’ Week 4 win at Levi’s Stadium.

Unlike in 2021, the 49ers will not receive draft-pick compensation from the NFL’s minority-hiring incentives; candidates must work more than one season for a franchise.