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Yahoo
5 hours ago
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- Yahoo
49ers' George Kittle on Robert Saleh Return: 'Violence is Coming'
49ers' George Kittle on Robert Saleh Return: 'Violence is Coming' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since Robert Saleh left to join the New York Jets, the San Francisco 49ers have struggled to find a consistent defensive play-caller. Advertisement First, DeMeco Ryans was promoted to the defensive coordinator role. Then it was Steve Wilks. Through the years, only a few coaches could match the intensity and production Saleh was able to get out of his group. After a disaster ending in New York, Saleh is back as the 49ers defensive play-caller. And the rest of the organization is thrilled with that reality. "Violence is coming is what I would say," 49ers tight end George Kittle said Tuesday on The Rich Eisen Show. "He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again. "So, I'm pumped to have him back in the building, just hanging out with him a little bit, talking about stuff. You can just tell he's ready to roll this year, and he's gonna get the boys fired up." Advertisement San Francisco is coming off a down season last year, which was largely due to injuries on both sides of the ball. Losing several key starters on defense this offseason makes their quest to get back to championship contention even harder. If Saleh can keep the group afloat in 2025, though, San Francisco should be able to overcome its struggles last season. They may keep Saleh around for the long term as well. Related: 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan Breaks Top 10 NFL Best Coaches Related: 49ers Running Back Room Clears Top 15 in Recent Rankings This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
49ers' George Kittle Sends Warning to NFL Over Return of DC Robert Saleh
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The San Francisco 49ers got a major boost on their coaching staff, as former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh agreed to return to the team in the role. Saleh was the head coach for the New York Jets, but was unceremoniously fired after Week 6 in 2024. More news: Bold Prediction Has Shocking Team Unseating Chiefs in the AFC Despite not having major success with the Jets, Saleh remains one of the best defensive minds and one of the most well-respected coaches in the league. It was no surprise that the 49ers immediately jumped at the chance to welcome him back. Saleh helped turn the 49ers' defense into a top 10 unit, and their rankings provided by ESPN through 2020 and 2021 showcased an elite unit. SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers talks to defensive co-ordinator Robert Saleh during the warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium... SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 15: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers talks to defensive co-ordinator Robert Saleh during the warm up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Levi's Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. MoreMore news: Texans to Sign Former Raiders First-Round Pick "In 2019 and 2020 combined, the Niners ranked 10th in points allowed per game (21.9), third in defensive efficiency (63.15) and defensive expected points added (73.52), second in yards allowed per play (4.9), and tied for ninth with 47 takeaways." Now, Saleh returns to help right the ship with the 49ers defense. This led to star tight end George Kittle sending a warning to the rest of the league. George Kittle on DC Robert Saleh returning to 49ers: "He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again. ... Violence is coming is what I would say." — Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) June 20, 2025 When Kittle was asked about the return of Saleh and what it means, he stated: "He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again. ... Violence is coming is what I would say." Violence is certainly an understatement, as the rankings that Saleh got out of that group are enough to worry the league, including the rest of the NFC West. According to Fox Sports, the 49ers had a top 10 defensive unit in 2024. With Saleh, that number could easily jump to the top five. The 49ers ended 2024 on a major slump, going 6-12, in what was clearly Super Bowl hangover from the previous year. Now, they have a chance to get back to playoff contention. San Francisco will look vastly different in 2025. Saleh is back to coach, but the offense will be down Deebo Samuel, who was traded to the Washington Commanders. The NFC West also got stronger with Sam Darnold coming over to the Seattle Seahawks, and Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams landing a huge get in Davante Adams. The 49ers have their work cut out for them, but Saleh's defensive mind should help to create a far more balanced team again. More NFL: Chiefs' Travis Kelce Heavily Disrespected in Latest Player Rankings For more on the 49ers, head to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
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49ers' George Kittle warns of ‘violence' amid Robert Saleh return
The post 49ers' George Kittle warns of 'violence' amid Robert Saleh return appeared first on ClutchPoints. The most prized addition to the San Francisco 49ers defense wasn't a free agent defender. It's Robert Saleh coming back as defensive coordinator. Which got George Kittle warning the league of 'violence' ahead of 2025. Advertisement The All-Pro tight end spoke to The Rich Eisen Show Wednesday to warn opposing offenses what's coming. 'Violence is coming is what I would say,' Kittle said to the longtime NFL Network personality. Kittle himself has seen first hand the destruction a 49ers defense led by Saleh brings. Both won the 2019 season NFC title before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. 'He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again,' Kittle said. Kittle described Saleh as one who inspires and knows how to fire up his players. 'And he just happens to also be really, really smart,' Kittle added. 'So, I'm pumped to have him back in the building, just hanging out with him a little bit, talking about stuff. You can just tell he's ready to roll this year, and he's gonna get the boys fired up.' 49ers' past success with Robert Saleh on staff D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images Kyle Shanahan tabbed Saleh as his first defensive coordinator in 2017. He spent three seasons as linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Advertisement Saleh and the 49ers became an immediate force together. San Francisco endured a rough start in 2017 — ranking 24th against yardage. But they jumped to 13th in 2018. The '19 season emerged as Saleh's best work. The 49ers produced the league's eighth-best scoring defense. But took second against total yards. San Francisco also delivered the league's top-ranked passing defense. That S.F. defense witnessed four defenders scale past 6.5 sacks. That included a young Nick Bosa who tallied nine sacks as a rookie. Saleh's defense still ranked in the top five despite the disappointing 6-10 mark. He eventually accepted the New York Jets head coaching position. None of his Jets teams advanced to the playoffs, though. The Jets fired Saleh in December before Christmas. Advertisement Saleh will aim to rebuild himself at the place he became renowned as a defensive play-caller. And this time, Kittle senses a new wave of 'violence' on deck. Related: 49ers' John Lynch gets brutally honest on 'tough' offseason Related: 49ers' John Lynch provides clear expectations for younger SF team
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
George Kittle on Robert Saleh's return: Violence is coming
George Kittle doesn't play defense, but Robert Saleh's return to the 49ers still has him fired up. Saleh built a strong defense when he was the team's coordinator from 2017-2020 and turned that success into a job as the head coach of the Jets. Saleh couldn't reach the same heights in that role and was fired during the 2024 season, which left him available for a second stint with the NFC West club this year. Advertisement During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show this week, Kittle shared a message for the rest of the league about what Saleh's return to the team will mean. "Violence is coming is what I would say," Kittle said. The tight end expanded on his thoughts about what Saleh brings to the table. "He's really good at his job, and I'm really excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again," Kittle said. "He knows what he's talking about, he's inspiring, he gets the boys fired up, and he just happens to also be really, really smart. So, I'm pumped to have him back in the building, just hanging out with him a little bit, talking about stuff. You can just tell he's ready to roll this year, and he's gonna get the boys fired up." The 49ers selected defensive players with their first five picks in this year's draft and the new blood will be needed after a slew of departures on that side of the ball this offseason. If Saleh can mold them into a similar unit to the one he built in his first 49ers run, a rebound from last year's disappointing season in Northern California could be in the cards.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets Star Embracing New Position Coach
Jets Star Embracing New Position Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh's premature firing may have destined the 2024 campaign to disaster, but the move wasn't made without cause. Between a lack of discipline, disasters under center, and the media circus that overshadowed much of his regime, plenty went wrong in East Rutherford. Advertisement But Saleh is still one of the top defensive minds in the sport, and his track record of developing players on his side of the ball has helped retain optimism well after his dismissal. Among the success stories are linebackers Quincy Williams and Jamien Sherwood. The former broke out under Saleh's watch, ascending to All-Pro status next to veteran C.J. Mosley. The latter picked up the slack when Mosley went down with an injury in 2024. Sherwood quickly became one of the best – and most important – players on New York's defense. Keeping him on the right developmental track is integral to next year's unit meeting expectations. An obstacle on that path is the coaching turnover after Saleh (and eventually Jeff Ulbrich) was fired. Linebackers coach Mike Rutenberg was a victim of those moves. Advertisement New head coach Aaron Glenn replaced him with Aaron Curry. The early returns seem to be favorable, with Sherwood praising the Jets' new position coach on June 12. 'In our linebacker meetings room, he [Curry] has been super interactive with us, he listens to us. He helps us relate our new defense to our last defense so it's easier for us,' Sherwood said. Curry is a well-respected position coach who has worked under former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and, more recently, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. That's an excellent pairing to learn from, and that pedigree isn't lost on Glenn, who's attempting to build a culture in East Rutherford. Sherwood, meanwhile, took his breakout campaign to free agency, where New York retained his services for three years and $45 million. By keeping him in the building, the Jets are striving both for continuity and growing trust between regime and roster. Sherwood played well and he was rewarded, handsomely. Advertisement He'll hope that with Curry's guidance, he can make good on his new deal and play a pivotal role in the middle of New York's defense. Related: Jets 'Best-Case' Scenario Revealed For Coach Aaron Glenn Related: Are Jets Limited By Fields' Inconsistencies This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
