Robert Saleh returns to the San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator. For star tight end George Kittle, the personnel change will strike fear into the hearts of opponents.

Robert Saleh is returning to the San Francisco 49ers as defensive coordinator for the 2025 NFL season after four years as head coach of the New York Jets.

The 46-year-old’s comeback to the role he held from 2017 to 2020 is expected to give the defense a significant boost.

After a relatively quiet offseason, tight end George Kittle says the initial spark will soon be ignited and the Niners unit will be given a new, old face that is sure to strike fear into the hearts of their opponents.

Kittle is looking forward to having Saleh back at the team facilities and knows firsthand what opponents can expect from the fiery defensive mastermind.

“Violence is coming, I would say,” the 49ers star emphasized on Tuesday on the “Rich Eisen Show.”

NFL: Robert Saleh set to be the 49ers’ defense’s guarantee of success once again

Saleh first joined the 49ers in 2017, the same year Kyle Shanahan was hired as head coach. The two had previously worked together as assistants with the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2009.

In Saleh’s last two seasons as defensive coordinator in San Francisco, the franchise ranked among the top five in the league in total defense.

In 2019, when San Francisco reached Super Bowl LIV before losing the final to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team also ranked among the top 10 in scoring defense.

Since Saleh joined the Jets, the 49ers have been in the top 10 in total defense in each of the four seasons, but in scoring defense, they slipped to 28th in 2024 (25.6 points per game). In the three years prior, the team ranked in the top 10.

The old acquaintance is now tasked with countering this downward trend in what is supposed to be the team’s showpiece.

In San Francisco, Saleh is expected to help the defense rediscover its tried-and-tested strengths and lead the team back to the playoffs for another shot at the Super Bowl.

“He’s really good at his job, and I’m really happy that we were able to convince him to come back and be our defensive coordinator,” Kittle emphasized.

He added: “He knows what he’s talking about, he’s inspiring, he fires up the guys, and he also happens to be very, very smart. So I’m really excited to have him back in the building, hang out with him a little bit and talk about things. You can tell he’s ready to get going this year and he’s going to fire up the guys.”

San Francisco 49ers: Robert Saleh looking forward to new, old responsibilities

Saleh was fired by the Jets after a 2-3 start last season. He finished his first stint as an NFL head coach with an overall record of 20-36.

Two weeks after his dismissal, Saleh joined the Green Bay Packers in an advisory role. On January 24, he was rehired by San Francisco.

“You learn a lot when you’re a head coach,” Saleh said in May. “But I’m happy to be back in this chair where I can coach a little more football and not have to deal with the administrative stuff that comes with being a head coach.”