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.

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.

Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen has pulled out of the running for the Jaguars coaching job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday, with former Jets coach Robert Saleh now one of two remaining candidates who has been scheduled for a second interview.

The San Francisco 49ers essentially banked their defensive coordinator search on a reunion with Robert Saleh and after days of uncertainty they weathered the storm and got their guy.

Robert Saleh will be on the San Francisco 49ers’ sideline this upcoming season. The 49ers are set to bring back the former New York Jets head coach.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen recently withdrew from the Jacksonville Jaguars' head coaching search, choosing to remain in Tampa. This decision has boosted Robert Saleh's ...

Robert Saleh is viewed as the favorite to be the next Jaguars head coach, as he landed in Jacksonville for an interview.

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.

The Bucs’ misfortune would be the 49ers’ gain since Saleh appears lined up to take the 49ers DC job if he doesn’t land a head coaching gig. He also had interviews lined up with the Raiders and Dallas Cowboys, but his name hasn’t been tied as heavily to those clubs as it has to the Jaguars.

Could the San Francisco 49ers bolster their defense around new coordinator Robert Saleh thanks to his New York Jets ties?

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.