San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner didn't hide his excitement for the return of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, but there were things he didn't say that illustrate what Saleh's return means for the 49ers' defense.

Reflecting on Robert Saleh's time with the San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars' Arik Armstead explains what made him an effective coach

Saleh, who was fired in October as the New York Jets head coach five games into his fourth season, generated interest on the head-coaching front and was seen as one of the frontrunners for the Jacksonville Jaguars job. He also interviewed with the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.

Robert Saleh is expected to return to the 49ers as their defensive coordinator if he doesn't become a head coach according to The Athletic and NBC Sports Bay Area.

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.

Over the last few seasons, one of the few bright spots for the New York Jets has been the cornerback tandem of Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed, with Michael Carter holding things down as the nickel. The Garden-Reed duo could be broken up this offseason, however, with a reunion with Robert Saleh.

Robert Saleh cannot personally create turnovers, rush the passer or stop the run. His return as the 49ers’ D-coordinator is no guarantee of success.

The 49ers and Jets both enjoyed top-five defenses under Saleh. There’s little reason to expect Saleh to stray away from what’s made his defenses elite. There also may not be m