Jets coach Saleh ‘forever indebted’ to 49ers, Shanahan family originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers family runs deep, and ex-defensive coordinator Robert Saleh looks back fondly on his time with San Francisco.
The New York Jets coach recently reflected on the team that gave him his first DC job ahead of his return to Levi’s Stadium in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, crediting the 49ers organization and its players for where he is today.
“First off, it’s a special place, getting my first opportunity as a coordinator,” Saleh told reporters Thursday. “Took over a not-so-great defense, and we were able to build that thing and bring in guys like Fred Warner, [Nick] Bosa, [Arik] Armstead, [DeForest] Buckner, Jimmie Ward, [Jaquiski] Tartt, K’Waun Williams, D.J. Jones, [Dre] Greenlaw — there’s so many guys.
“Eric Reid was there for the first year. I’m sure I missed some guys, but Dee Ford, Ronnie Blair. If you like winning, you like Ronnie. There’s so many guys, so many coaches. I’ll forever be indebted to the Shanahan family. Papa [Mike] Shanahan, who had a tremendous influence. [49ers coach] Kyle [Shanahan], obviously, challenged me every day to look outside the box; [general manager/president of football operations] John [Lynch] and his tutelage.
“I mean, it’s just an elite organization. The York family and the way they operate day to day. I think it’s a class organization, and [I’m] forever indebted to them.”
#Jets HC Robert Saleh said he is ‘forever indebted’ to the #49ers organization for what they’ve meant to his career. 🥹
Off the top of his head Saleh name dropped 12 players that helped turn things around + talked about lessons from the Shanahan family he learned & how special… pic.twitter.com/YeCg08M92e
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) August 30, 2024
Saleh served as 49ers DC for four seasons from 2017 to 2020, joining a new regime under Shanahan and Lynch that reestablished San Francisco as a dominant NFL force. The 49ers returned to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-coach-saleh-forever-indebted-223940119.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-08-31 22:39:40
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