Robert Saleh to receive record contract offer from the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers’ search for a new defensive coordinator has not necessarily gotten off the ground.

San Francisco moved on from Nick Sorensen after just one season. It is now looking to hire its fourth defensive coordinator in as many years. The lack of continuity in this regard has played a major role in the 49ers’ lack of improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

As head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co. search for a new coordinator following a dreadful 7-10 season, one name continues to rise to the top.

Former 49ers defensive coordinator and New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is seen as an overwhelming favorite to land the job. In fact, it seems as if the 49ers’ brass has tunnel vision when it comes to the process of bringing in a new defensive coordinator. Robert Saleh or bust.

According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, San Francisco is prepared to make Saleh an offer that would make him the highest-paid defensive coordinator in NFL history.

“We will make you the highest paid defensive coordinator in all the land if you sign with us,” Barrows relayed on a recent podcast.

Saleh, 45, served as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2020 before leaving to take the Jets’ head coach job. He led two top-five defenses during his time in Santa Clara.

Saleh was fired five games into the 2024 season by the Jets after posting an ugly 20-36 record. Though, he did head defenses that finished in the top five three times. This is a role he is seemingly built for.

The 49ers’ offer to make Saleh the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the NFL will not come without a fight. He’s considered a candidate for head coach openings with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys. If any of the three were to offer him a job, he’d take it over returning to the 49ers in a lesser role.

Robert Saleh And San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Candidates

Saleh is the ultimate goldmine for San Francisco. But the 49ers’ brass must have some backup options should he land a head coach job elsewhere.

Detroit Lions defensive passing-game coordinator Deshea Townsend has already interviewed for the job. A veteran defensive back for 13 seasons in the NFL, Townsend is seen as an up-and-comer within the coaching ranks. Under his watch, Detroit yielded 18 touchdown passes compared to 16 interceptions during the regular season.

Jeff Ulbrich was tabbed to replace Saleh when the latter was fired five games into the season. He’s also considered a candidate for the 49ers’ opening. Ulbrich had been the Jets’ defensive coordinator since back in 2021. He previously served in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020.

Ulbrich, 47, is a San Jose native and played linebacker for the 49ers for a decade from 2000-2009.

One internal candidate for the opening is assistant coach Brandon Staley. The former Los Angeles Chargers head coach joined San Francisco’s coaching staff this season after being fired by the Chargers during the 2023 campaign. Shanahan has already said that he’ll give Staley a shot during the interview process.

“I’ll give Staley a shot. I just talked to him; he’s been here,” Shanahan told reporters recently.

One name that must be brought up is former Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen. He was relieved of his duties by New Orleans nine games into this past regular season.

Allen has a wealth of experience leading top-end defenses in the NFL, He coordinated the Saints’ defense under Sean Payton from 2015-21 before taking over as head coach.

It’s hard to imagine Allen getting a third chance of being a head coach after failing in his previous two stops.

This could lead to some continuity for the San Francisco 49ers at the all-important position after it has acted as a revolving door recently. Hiring Saleh might force the 49ers to bring in another defensive coordinator next offseason given interest in him from others as a head coach. Just some food for thought.