When the New York Jets brought in Robert Saleh, his reputation as a defensive maestro preceded him. His 49ers defenses were always swarming, and he was regularly recognized on national broadcasts.
After the 2021 season, the picture looked different. The Jets ranked dead last in the NFL in most defensive categories, which was actually worse than they had been the year before. Fans wondered if Saleh had leveraged the elite 49ers’ talent toward a head coaching job rather than leading the defense to success.
However, a year later, things have once again taken a turn.