The San Francisco 49ers certainly understood the strong likelihood Robert Saleh wouldn't stay long when they hired him to return as their defensive coordinator last offseason.
Saleh finally accepted the role after being a head-coaching finalist for opening with the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, revealing the fact his name indeed hadn't been dragged through the mud after the previous firing by the New York Jets.
Hence, the Niners also inked another defensive mastermind and former head coach, Gus Bradley, to serve as Saleh's assistant coordinator. It's hard not to recognize the potential succession pipeline being put into place.