Super Bowl: Jets coach Robert Saleh left his imprint on 49ers' defensive unit
Jets coach Robert Saleh's former players with the 49ers, including Fred Warner (top right) and Nick Bosa (bottom right), have fond memories of their former defensive coordinator. Credit: Jim McIsaac; Chris Unger/Getty Images
LAS VEGAS — The impact Robert Saleh had on the 49ers is still felt by some of his former players.
All-Pros Fred Warner and Nick Bosa and defensive lineman Arik Armstead spoke highly of Saleh, the former San Francisco defensive coordinator and current Jets coach.
Saleh ran the 49ers defense when they last made the Super Bowl during the 2019 season. Warner said Saleh had “a huge impact” on him and Armstead called him “a great coach.” Saleh was popular in San Francisco for turning that defense into one of the league’s best, being fired up on the sideline and getting the most out of his players.
“Coach Saleh was one of the first ones before I even got drafted to the 49ers to instill confidence in me during a time where people were trying to tear you down and tell you how you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you’re not good at this,” Warner said. “Saleh was one of the few coaches that told me he saw exactly what I was doing on tape at BYU would translate to what we did with the Niners. That gave me all the confidence in the world.
“He obviously kept the confidence in me as a young rookie, battling through mistakes and trying to learn a new position and still had all the confidence in the world in me. I’m forever indebted to him.”
Robert Saleh, then the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, looks on during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Oct. 28, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. Credit: Getty Images/Christian Petersen
Saleh was behind the 49ers drafting Warner in the third round in 2018 and Bosa second overall the next year. Armstead, who was there before Saleh arrived, had a career-high 10 sacks in 2019 playing for Saleh.
“Saleh was a great coach for me, a guy I could talk to about football, a great person,” Armstead said. “You could tell that he cared about you outside of football too. He was a smart coach, a guy that would listen to his players and ask us about what we felt like was going on out there. He was an inspiring coach, too. A lot of motivation. Playing for him was definitely great.”
Saleh has tried to do the same things with the Jets.
He’s transformed them into a top defense. The Jets finished fourth in total defense in 2022 and third this season. Their uninspired and ineffective offense and record under Saleh (18-33) have him on shaky ground, though.
Saleh needs to win in 2024 or the Jets will be looking for a new coach.
“They need to get their offense situated because the defense is playing pretty damn good,” said Bosa, who sounded like every Jets fan.
Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich have found players that fit the system and developed a number of them into impact players, including Quincy Williams and Bryce Huff. The Jets play an aggressive and disruptive style. It was the blueprint from when Saleh’s defense was No. 3 in the 49ers’ previous Super Bowl year.
They drafted Warner, who was a hybrid safety-linebacker at BYU. Saleh saw Warner as a full-time linebacker. He made the transition and now he’s one of the best at his position.
Warner has been All-Pro three times and made three Pro Bowls. His 766 tackles are the fourth-most among linebackers since 2018.
“I guess he saw something in my tape from BYU that allowed him to have that confidence in me transferring over to playing off-the-ball 'backer and giving calls and things of that sort,” Warner said. “It was a grind in the beginning. Really grateful for him.”
The Jets thought they could compete for a Super Bowl this season after acquiring Aaron Rodgers. Things fell apart after Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in Week 1. Saleh felt some heat, but ownership gave him a pass because of the Rodgers situation.
Armstead said Rodgers’ injury “put a damper on everything” but he believes the Jets “have a good thing going” with Saleh leading them. Warner still texts with Saleh and hopes things turn around for Saleh with the Jets.
“I wish him nothing but success,” Warner said. “I know they have been going through a little bit of a rough patch. They made a big move getting Aaron and they were expecting a really big season with him at the helm and then he gets injured in the first game. When you don’t have that piece on your team it’s hard to win.
“I’m really hopeful for him to have success and I’m always wishing him the best.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
