Robert Saleh is getting closer to a reunion with the 49ers, as Liam Coen reopens talks with the Jaguars after the firing of GM Trent Baalke.

Later on Thursday, then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen had a change of heart, the Jacksonville Jaguars quickly moved to hire him as head coach and Saleh, who told Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch that he’d return to the 49ers if he didn’t get a head-coaching job, stayed true to his promise.

Saleh was fired midway through this past season in New York, but the Jets had a strong defense under his tenure.

Robert Saleh’s encore as 49ers defensive coordinator took on more likelihood as the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Las Vegas Raiders hired others to fill their head coach vacancies.

Saleh had interviewed for three head coaching positions but had committed to head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch that, should be not get another head coaching job, he would return to San Francisco as defensive coordinator,

Just two seasons after the 49ers were ninth-worst in the NFL in yards allowed per game (351.6), they ranked second (281.8) in the same category as they won the NFC crown. Saleh parlayed his defensive prowess into the Jets head coaching job in 2021, but the same success did not follow.

After a 16-day search, the Niners on Friday announced they hired Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator ... When Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen re-emerged as a top candidate ...

The Chicago Bears made the latest move in the NFL coaching carousel, hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson ... all candidates except former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, virtually. The Jaguars won't have to wait long ...

What if Aaron Rodgers came out of his darkness retreat and retired in 2023? This is what may have happened to the New York Jets.

Robert Saleh didn’t get the job he wanted, but the job he accepted could lead to a gig he desires next year. Saleh rejoined the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator Friday and the announcement was made shortly after the last of the three head-coaching openings for which he was a candidate was filled.

For some of those teams, that will involve finding new head coaches and/or General Managers. Three teams fired their head coaches during the season and two more have been dispatched as of 9 a.m. ET on January 6.