National Football League: Niners’ Robert Saleh Leads List of New Coordinators for NFL Contenders
Published Aug. 4, 2025 3:12 p.m up vs lasalle score. ET
The San Francisco 49ers have brought back a familiar face to rejuvenate a defensive unit that has slipped from being one of the league’s top performers to a mediocre group in recent years. Robert Saleh returns for a second stint as coordinator, aiming to rebuild the defense to its 2019 form, when San Francisco’s formidable defense propelled the team to the Super Bowl. “His commanding presence in defensive meetings is what we needed,” said star defensive end Nick Bosa.
The 49ers are not the only contenders to make coaching changes, with several teams adjusting their offensive and defensive play-callers ahead of the 2025 season. The effectiveness of these changes will significantly influence which teams enjoy extended playoff runs deep into January.
Some franchises faced unavoidable changes, such as the Detroit Lions, who had to replace both coordinators after Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn accepted head coaching positions. Similarly, Super Bowl champions Philadelphia had to find a new offensive coordinator after Kellen Moore became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Tampa Bay also finds itself in a similar predicament for the second consecutive season, having lost another offensive coordinator to a head coaching role, as Liam Coen left for Jacksonville one year after Dave Canales departed for Carolina.
Other teams, including Houston, Cincinnati, and Seattle, made adjustments in hopes of reigniting their offensive and defensive performances. Here’s a closer look at some of the key new coordinators around the NFL:
49ers DC Robert Saleh
Last season, the 49ers ranked 29th in the league in scoring defense, allowing an average of 25.6 points per game. They were also tied for the seventh-fewest takeaways, managing only 17. This drop-off has prompted head coach Kyle Shanahan to make another coordinator change, welcoming Saleh back after he was let go as head coach of the New York Jets. During Saleh’s final two full seasons with the Jets (2022-23), the team led the league in passing yards allowed per game (178.9) and yards per play allowed (4.7), while finishing second in total defense (301.7 yards per game). The 49ers are hopeful that Saleh can replicate that success and guide them back to the playoffs after a disappointing 6-11 finish in 2024.
Lions OC John Morton and DC Kelvin Sheppard
This marks the third time in 15 seasons that an NFL team has lost both coordinators to head coaching positions in the same offseason, with previous instances occurring in Philadelphia after the 2022 season and in Cincinnati after the 2013 campaign. The Lions aim higher following their appearance in the NFC title game in 2023 and their loss in the divisional round as the top seed last season. Keller Morton’s success will be vital in keeping the offense ranked among the top five in scoring for a fourth consecutive season after Johnson’s innovative strategies made it one of the league’s most electrifying. Morton has only one year of play-calling experience in the NFL (2017 with the Jets), where he struggled to find success due to a lack of playmakers. Sheppard’s task will be aided by the return of star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who missed the final 12 games last season due to a broken leg.
Eagles OC Kevin Patullo
Quarterback Jalen Hurts will work with his fourth offensive coordinator in as many years, as Patullo has been promoted from passing game coordinator following Moore’s exit. The Eagles’ offense showed improvement under Moore in 2024 after a sluggish performance in the previous season when Brian Johnson replaced Shane Steichen as OC. Patullo has an array of talent at his disposal, including a top-notch offensive line, record-setting running back Saquon Barkley, and two excellent wide receivers, A game gcash.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, to support Hurts.
Buccaneers OC Josh Grizzard
Last season, Tampa Bay’s offense flourished with Coen taking over from Canales, showcasing significant advancements in the running game and screen passes. Grizzard now steps up from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator, aiming to build on that success. He played a crucial role in the Bucs’ third down offense in 2024, leading the NFL with a conversion rate of 50.9%.
Texans OC Nick Caley
Despite Houston reaching the divisional round last season, Ryans opted for a change following a significant regression in offensive performance, primarily due to poor line play that hindered quarterback C.J. english magazine Stroud’s development. philippines online sabong Caley joins the Texans after spending the last two years on Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams and is expected to introduce some successful strategies from Los Angeles to ease Stroud’s transition, all while working with a newly revamped offensive line that lost key player Laremy Tunsil in the offseason.
Bengals DC AL Golden
The Bengals turned to the college ranks to hire Golden from Notre Dame, aiming to replace Lou Anarumo. Cincinnati reached the Super Bowl under Anarumo’s guidance in the 2021 season, but the defense has since regressed, landing in the bottom 10 in most categories last season. Golden returns to Cincinnati, where he spent the 2020-21 season as the linebackers coach, introducing a man-heavy scheme to the NFL.
Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
Seattle has appointed Kubiak to replace Ryan Grubb, hoping his zone-blocking and play-action-heavy approach can enhance the Seahawks’ offensive line. Kubiak served as OC in New Orleans last season, where the team started strong before injuries led to a downturn terry rozier injury update.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
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