Robert Saleh is getting closer to a reunion with the 49ers, as Liam Coen reopens talks with the Jaguars after the firing of GM Trent Baalke.

Saleh was fired midway through this past season in New York, but the Jets had a strong defense under his tenure.

Later on Thursday, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen had a change of heart, the Jacksonville Jaguars quickly moved to hire him as head coach and Saleh, who told Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch that he’d return to the 49ers if he didn’t get a head-coaching job, stayed true to his promise.

Robert Saleh, who ran the Niners' defense from 2017 to 2020, is heading back to San Francisco for the same role after a three-plus-year stint as Jets coach.

Robert Saleh’s encore as 49ers defensive coordinator took on more likelihood as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders hired others to fill their head coach vacancies.

Saleh had interviewed for three head coaching positions but had committed to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch that, should be not get another head coaching job, he would return to San Francisco as defensive coordinator,

Just two seasons after the 49ers were ninth-worst in the NFL in yards allowed per game (351.6), they ranked second (281.8) in the same category as they won the NFC crown. Saleh parlayed his defensive prowess into the Jets head coaching job in 2021, but the same success did not follow.

The Chicago Bears made the latest move in the NFL coaching carousel, hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson ... all candidates except former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, virtually. The Jaguars won't have to wait long ...

As I wrote recently, the Niners can look to the example of the NFC's Super Bowl representative, the Philadelphia Eagles, as a shining example of a team rebounding quickly from a disappointing season.

The San Francisco 49ers are bringing back Robert Saleh for a second stint as defensive coordinator after a failed tenure as head coach of the New York Jets. A person familiar with the choice told The Associated Press on Friday night that Saleh will rejoin the Niners after leaving to take over the Jets following the 2020 season.

The Dallas Cowboys are hiring offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as their next head coach, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater reported on Friday.