The San Francisco 49ers appeared poised to lose assistant defensive line coach Greg Scruggs to newly hired Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh, the team's former defensive coordinator. However, that move now appears unlikely following a correction from NBC Sports Bay Area.
On Sunday, Matt Maiocco initially reported that Saleh planned to hire Scruggs as the Titans' defensive line coach. Later in the day, the longtime 49ers insider issued an update clarifying that Saleh is now expected to pursue a different option.
"The 49ers gave permission to new Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh to take one of their assistant coaches with him," Maiocco wrote. "San Francisco was prepared to lose assistant defensive line coach Greg Scruggs to the Titans on Sunday morning, but Saleh now is expected to go in a different direction to fill his vacancy at defensive line coach, league sources told NBC Sports Bay Area."
Maiocco added, "NBC Sports Bay Area originally reported Sunday morning that Saleh was taking Scruggs with him. Later, another source told NBC Sports Bay Area that Saleh still is evaluating his options and now it appears to be heading in a different direction."
Titans coach Robert Saleh is taking Greg Scruggs with him from the 49ers' staff to be his defensive line coach. Scruggs was the 49ers' assistant defensive line coach this season and worked on Saleh's staff with the Jets in 2022.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 25, 2026
Saleh is beginning to shape his coaching staff with the Titans after being named their head coach last week. His departure has left the 49ers searching for a new defensive coordinator. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has stated that assistant head coach Gus Bradley is the top internal candidate, though the organization plans to conduct a thorough search.
Last week, Shanahan acknowledged that he expected Saleh to pull from the San Francisco staff as he builds his own staff in Tennessee.
"Yeah, I do expect Saleh to ask for some people," Shanahan said. "We'll see how that goes here over the next two weeks."
Scruggs spent just one season with the 49ers, but has a longer history working alongside Saleh. He began his NFL coaching career with Saleh on the New York Jets' staff in 2022, serving as an assistant defensive line coach. Scruggs later spent a season at Wisconsin as the Badgers' defensive line coach before reuniting with Saleh in San Francisco for the 2025 NFL season.
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