The San Francisco 49ers wrapped up their regular season on Saturday night with a 13-3 loss to their division-rival Seahawks. “Black Monday,” as it’s come to be known, claimed several now-former head coaches. The day after the regular seasons ends is so named for all the firings that usually come with it, and this year was no different.
As it stands, there are seven head coaching vacancies across the NFL: the Titans, Giants, Raiders, Browns, Cardinals, Falcons, and Ravens. That last team is the most surprising, as Baltimore fired longtime HC John Harbaugh on Tuesday despite his long history of success with the franchise, including winning a Super Bowl in 2012. Harbaugh immediately became the top coaching candidate on the market.
The 49ers are no strangers to having coordinators poached for head coaching gigs, and they may be set to lose another one. 49ers DC Robert Saleh is expected to be a serious candidate for multiple head coach openings. There are a lot of current vacancies, and not many proven commodities — Saleh’s experience and defensive prowess will be seen as major selling points.
San Francisco 49ers DC Robert Saleh Made a Big Move in Preparation
GettySANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh of the San Francisco 49ers reacts during the first quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
It’s not just word on the street: the man himself is moving in preparation for his opportunities. Saleh hired a new agent in advance of this cycle, something which could boost his appeal or help him negotiate a more favorable contract. Switching agents at a time like this is a pretty clear signal that he’s making some sort of change.
The move signals Saleh’s eagerness to jump back to a head coaching position, if he’s offered one. Saleh was previously the head coach of the Jets from 2021-2024, where he amassed a 20-36 record through three and a half seasons (he was fired five games into the 2024 season). Though Saleh could never find sustained success in New York, the Jets’ lack of success since his departure has opened the door for him to find a second chance at another job.
The San Francisco 49ers Defense is Better with Saleh at the Helm
One thing that can’t be denied about Saleh is that he’s a phenomenal defensive coordinator. In his first stint as the 49ers defensive coordinator from 2017-2020, his defenses went from being ranked 24th, to 13th, to second, and then finally to fifth during his time. Even when he was with the Jets as their head coach, he took the 32nd ranked defense in his first season to the fourth-, third-, and third-best defenses over the next three seasons he was there.
San Francisco’s defense didn’t fall off a cliff after Saleh left — in fact they remained in the top 10 each year. But there’s a reason 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan brought him back as soon as he could. Saleh is one of the smartest defensive minds in the game today, and the 49ers would be hard-pressed to replace him if he were to leave.
49ers DC Robert Saleh Drops Hint on Future With Big Change Before Playoffs