Saleh's second stint with the 49ers lasted just the 2025 season. He began his NFL coaching career in 2005 as an intern with the Houston Texans, then moved up the ranks to quality control coach (2006–2008) and linebackers coach (2009–2010).
From 2011 to 2013, Saleh served on the Seattle Seahawks' coaching staff as a defensive quality control coach, playing a role in their Super Bowl XLVIII championship season.
He then spent three seasons (2014–2016) as the Jacksonville Jaguars' linebackers coach before joining 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff in 2017. As San Francisco's defensive coordinator for four seasons, Saleh helped guide the team to a Super Bowl LIV appearance in 2019.
In 2021, Saleh became the head coach of the New York Jets but was dismissed in 2024, paving the way for his return to San Francisco as defensive coordinator.
The 49ers will not receive any compensatory draft picks for the loss of Saleh this time around. Minority candidates must have been with a team for at least two seasons to qualify.
Saleh succeeds Brian Callahan—and interim coach Mike McCoy—in Tennessee, earning the job over candidates such as Matt Nagy.
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