SANTA CLARA — It’s not price fretting over the potential lack of 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh throughout the subsequent NFL head teaching cycle.
Saleh actually isn’t. He has been by means of the method twice: as soon as when he bought the Jets job, and final offseason when he spoke with Jacksonville, Las Vegas and Dallas. With the 49ers at 11-4 and contending for the highest seed — and even the prospect to host Tremendous Bowl LX — it’s not on the forefront of his thoughts.
“We’ve got the playoffs,” Saleh stated Wednesday because the 49ers started preparations to host the Chicago Bears (11-4) Sunday evening at Levi’s Stadium. “I hope we’ve got five more home games.”
He informed ESPN lately he aspires to be a head coach once more.
“The desire is there,” Saleh stated. “But at the same time, it’s not desperation.”
Saleh understands the worth of a secure group after going 20-36 with the New York Jets and being fired 4 video games into the 2024 season. And a part of the explanation teaching jobs grow to be accessible is a few degree of instability.
The New York Giants (3-12) and Tennessee Titans (2-13) have interim coaches in Mike Kafka and Mike McCoy, respectively, and neither is predicted to retain the place.
There are potential openings in Arizona (3-12), Cleveland (3-12), Las Vegas (2-13) and Miami (6-9). After his expertise with the Jets below proprietor Woody Johnson, none of these could sound interesting to Saleh for his second crack at being a head coach.
It might be a special story if any one of many NFL teaching blue bloods decides to hold it up. Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin are each of their 18th seasons, whereas Kansas Metropolis’s Andy Reid is in 12 months 13 with the Chiefs after 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Saleh is the 49ers’ fourth defensive coordinator within the final 4 seasons, following DeMeco Ryans, Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen.
Even when Saleh does depart, it’s conceivable the 49ers have had a plan in place all alongside for his departure when Gus Bradley joined the workers as an assistant head coach with a defensive focus.
Bradley and Saleh have a protracted historical past collectively. Saleh was a high quality management coach in Seattle in 2011 when Bradley was defensive coordinator. When Bradley was named head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014, Saleh joined him as linebackers coach.
Bradley has intensive expertise as a defensive coordinator with the Colts, Raiders and Chargers and has served as a sounding board for Saleh all season.
“Gus is like a second Pops to me. He lights up the room,” Saleh stated. “He unifies buildings, he unifies people. People gravitate to his personality and infectious smile. I’ve always said the greatest compliment a person can receive is when you’re around that person, you want to be a better person. That’s Gus.”
Bradley’s motivational fashion goes past fundamentals and scheme. He speaks to the 49ers the evening earlier than video games, talks that Kyle Shanahan stated are completely random. The topics can vary from going fishing together with his son to a girl getting pulled over in Alabama to occurring amusement park rides — the top of the story getting again to the duty at hand the following day.
Luke Gifford (57) of he 49ers was elated to be chosen to the 2026 Professional Bowl Video games on particular groups. Dai Sugano/Bay Space Information Group
Shanahan stated the 49ers, winners of 5 straight, haven’t misplaced since Bradley started giving his talks.
“I asked Gus to do one of his stories, it hit, the guys loved it,” Shanahan stated. “I kind of stick with things that work, and he’s undefeated. I don’t take people off when they’re on a heater.”
Tight finish George Kittle pointed to the hires of Saleh and Bradley as making a distinction in 2025 when Sorensen ran the protection and Brandon Staley was the assistant head coach.
“I love Robert Saleh, the energy and fire that he brings every day,” Kittle stated. “And Gus Bradley, he offers the best pump-up speeches the evening earlier than each recreation. They don’t actually have something to do with soccer. They’re enjoyable with an excellent level on the finish.
“I view him similar to me, where he loves the game of football, has a great time coaching it and loves every single day, win or lose. I think that bleeds into the entire office and is incredibly helpful.”
Operating again Christian McCaffery stated Bradley is “the most unbelievable speaker I’ve ever heard when it comes to fun pump-up speeches,” however declined to provide specifics.
“I think that’s one of those things where if you know, you know,” McCaffrey stated, “and you’ve kind of got to experience it for yourself to really understand it.”
Damage replace
Kittle “has a chance,” in line with Shanahan, to face Chicago Sunday evening. Kittle didn’t end the sport with an ankle sprain that bought progressively worse in a recreation through which he caught seven passes for 115 yards and a landing.
Kittle didn’t take part in what Shanahan referred to as a “half-speed” apply Wednesday. Neither did Yetur Gross-Matos (knee, upkeep). Cornerback Renardo Inexperienced (neck) was restricted after lacking the Indianapolis recreation, as was broad receiver Ricky Pearsall Jr. (knee), a sign he might be good to go towards the Bears after not touring to Indianapolis.
Gifford’s response
Linebacker Luke Gifford was elated at his choice to the 2026 Professional Bowl Video games together with McCaffery, Kittle, left deal with Trent Williams, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and long-snapper Jon Weeks, with return specialist Skyy Moore as an alternate.
Gifford bought the phrase from particular groups coordinator Brant Boyer and felt he had a shot based mostly on postgame conversations with different particular groups gamers across the league.
“We don’t have a ton of scheme, but what we do is play fast and cut it loose,” Gifford stated. “That’s been (Boyer’s) message since he got here. No matter what, we’re going to go gas pedal down as fast as we can and play violent and physical.”
Notable
— Linebacker Eric Kendricks, a apply squad elevation, regarded good in his 10 snaps and had no recurrence of the calf harm that slowed him upon arrival to the 49ers on Nov. 26, Shanahan stated.
— Shanahan stated working again Jordan James, a fifth-round draft pick of Oregon, was deserving of being lively towards Indianapolis based mostly on the previous few weeks of apply however wasn’t positive if he can be up towards Chicago.
— Wayward broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk posted an apology on his YouTube channel apologizing for a current video through which he was apparently driving at an extreme velocity on Tasman Avenue previous Levi’s Stadium, though his face was by no means proven within the clip.
“Sorry y’all, my car content won’t come with speeding anymore,” he wrote. “Was praying with my son tonight and wouldn’t want anybody else to miss out on an opportunity to do the same with their loved ones! My apologies.”
