Robert Saleh returned to the San Francisco 49ers with the expectation of revitalizing a struggling defense. However, injuries have kept the unit from reaching its full potential, and the 49ers currently rank No. 25 in total yards allowed per game. Only four NFL teams have worse Pro Football Focus defensive grades than the 49ers' 56.3 mark.
Despite the team's defensive challenges, speculation is growing that Saleh could draw interest for head-coaching vacancies across the NFL this offseason. In his recent Sports Illustrated mailbag, insider Albert Breer explored which teams might pursue the 49ers' defensive coordinator and what San Francisco's contingency plan could look like.
Breer believes Saleh will almost certainly attract attention and may ultimately land another head-coaching opportunity.
"He'll interview well, he's very close with a lot of the Shanahan-McVay tree offensive coaches (so finding a good OC won't be a chore), and he'll be able to energize a franchise that's fallen on hard times," Breer explained. "I could see the Titans or the Giants taking a long look at him, paired potentially with a Mike McDaniel (if he doesn't make it in Miami) or Mike LaFleur to run the offense."
If Saleh departs after just one season back in San Francisco, what would that mean for the 49ers?
"If Saleh's out, I know current Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich would be very high on Shanahan's list," Breer wrote. "Whether he actually becomes available is another question."
Breer added that he doesn't expect Ulbrich to become available.
"So my guess is Gus Bradley, who's currently in-house in San Francisco, would probably be the guy," Breer continued. "Shanahan has grown to really like him, and he'd be able to take the baton pretty easily from Saleh, whom he mentored years ago."
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