Shockwaves in the NFL: 49ers Crushed by Seahawks as Robert Saleh Abruptly Departs for Titans—What’s Next for San Francisco?
Change is the name of the game again for the San Francisco 49ers—yet another year, yet another defensive coordinator vacancy to fill. After a tough 41-6 dismantling by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, the news came quick: Robert Saleh is off to his second head coaching gig, this time leading the Tennessee Titans back in the AFC. It’s a whirlwind that’s become almost routine, but the impact? Oh, it’s real—and it shakes the foundation for Kyle Shanahan’s squad once more. Saleh’s journey is fascinating, from his 49ers DC days to his stint guiding the Jets, and now… the Tennessee Titans count on him to steer their ship. Meanwhile, the 49ers face yet another offseason puzzle, hunting for that defensive mastermind who can finally stick. Rumors swirl, internal candidates emerge, and the cycle spins on—what’ll Shanahan do next? Dive into the full story and catch all the drama unfolding behind the scenes.
The San Francisco 49ers will be in need of a new defensive coordinator for a fourth consecutive year.
With the 49ers now out of the playoffs following their 41-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round, it didn’t take long for Robert Saleh to find his second head coaching job. He’s set to head back to the AFC to coach the Tennessee Titans.
BREAKING: The #Titans are hiring #49ers DC Robert Saleh as their new head coach, sources tell me.
A true leader of men is what Tennessee wanted, and Saleh will team up with Cam Ward as the future of the franchise. pic.twitter.com/m0QL2cm8ln
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 20, 2026
Saleh coached the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024, which didn’t go too well but nothing ever seems to go well for the Jets these days. He was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2020 under Kyle Shanahan, but his Super Bowl ring comes courtesy of his time as a defensive quality control coach with the Seattle Seahawks.
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Beyond this news meaning that Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has one less possible head coach destination (although he never interviewed with the Titans, in fairness), it’s another offseason where the 49ers need a new DC. When Saleh left, Shanahan picked DeMeco Ryans, which went so well that he became the Houston Texans head coach in 2023. After the 49ers lost again to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, Shanahan canned Steve Wilks and replaced him with Nick Sorensen in 2024. Sorensen wasn’t getting the job done, which led to his departure to make way for the returning Saleh.
Former Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley is on the 49ers staff as assistant head coach and could be an internal option, but for chaos reasons it’d be funny if they just gave former Seahawks linebacker a big promotion from defensive quality control coach.
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