The San Francisco 49ers are focused on closing out the regular season strong and positioning themselves for a deep playoff run. Still, one offseason storyline is already drawing attention—and could surface even before the postseason ends.
What happens with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh?
Saleh is widely expected to be a highly sought-after candidate in the upcoming head-coaching cycle. Could his reunion with the 49ers last just one season?
Speaking Friday on Bay Area radio station KNBR, general manager John Lynch acknowledged the situation and the possibility that Saleh may once again be in high demand, and that the 49ers would love nothing more than to keep him on the coaching staff.
"However, there's a human nature to this whole deal, and Robert has big aspirations," Lynch said. "He always has. I don't want to speak for Robert, but I think he'll probably be more choosy this time, in terms of where—not just going to coach anywhere. He probably wants a really good situation because he has one here."
Saleh first served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before becoming the New York Jets' head coach, a run that ended last season, when he was fired.
Lynch made it clear the 49ers want to keep Saleh and will do what they can to retain him.
"And we're blessed to have Robert, but at some point, you've got to understand that you have to allow people to go chase their dreams," Lynch continued. "Now, we can make it very attractive for him to stay, and we plan on doing that, but we're fortunate to have Robert.
"He does a tremendous job, and we're just going to enjoy the ride right now, and then, we'll take care of that when it presents itself."
For now, San Francisco's attention is on Sunday night's matchup against the Chicago Bears at Levi's Stadium. A win, followed by another victory the next week against the Seattle Seahawks, would secure the NFC West title and home-field advantage, making these next two games critical for a deep playoff run.
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