Saleh was seen as the likely scapegoat for a season gone wrong. The fanbase seems to have put aside its torches and pitchforks for the time being thanks to the 49ers reeling off two consecutive victories in games where they seemed outmatched.
A win on Sunday against the Chicago Bears could go a long way toward buying Saleh another season in San Francisco. Of course, Shanahan never seemed too dissatisfied in his defensive coordinator, so maybe his job was never on the line.
"I've been coaching a long time," Shanahan told Damon Bruce. "I've been in a lot of different buildings. I've been around a lot of different schemes. I've played against a lot of different schemes. I know Saleh knows what he's talking about. I see it every single day, and I have a lot of experience to compare that to."
Right now, Saleh's defense sits among the middle of the pack. It ranks No. 12 in yards allowed, No. 12 against the pass, and No. 14 against the run. The unit ranks near the bottom of the league in points allowed, sitting at No. 26.
What frustrated the fanbase was watching the defense give up fourth-quarter leads on a consistent basis. It did so against the Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, and the New York Giants.
Shanahan still believes Saleh is the right man for the job despite a season full of struggles.
"There's not many people out there better than Saleh," Shanahan continued. "I feel we're very fortunate to have him. We're going to see how this year finishes but I've been happy with Saleh all the way, and I know he's a very good coach, and I know he's only going to get better."
You can listen to the entire interview with Shanahan below.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Dre Greenlaw's first thought after scuffle with 49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey: "Better not touch 23"
The San Francisco 49ers' first padded practice of training camp was anything but quiet. The intensity boiled over multiple times during Friday's practice, with linebacker Dre Greenlaw and running back Christian McCaffrey getting into a heated exchange. Fortunately, there is no... -
49ers' Nick Bosa believes he can be even better after latest surgery
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is already considered one of the NFL's premier pass rushers, but the All-Pro believes he can reach another level in 2026 despite returning from an ACL injury that limited him to just three games last season. Bosa is confident the... -
49ers named among top Vita Vea trade fits—but there's one reason for hesitation
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Vita Vea appears to have grown tired of waiting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to finalize a contract extension and has reportedly requested a trade. As is often the case when a star player becomes available, speculation has quickly made the San Francisco... -
49ers' Fred Warner shares players' reaction to Kyle Shanahan addressing the team
Although San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't been able to take on his full-time duties at the start of training camp, he has remained a visible presence around the facility. As he continues recovering from the injuries he suffered in a July 14 car accident,...