49ers ramp up Super Bowl push with fundamental reunion that has fans dreaming
The San Francisco 49ers are on the charge for a Super Bowl, with their latest move a clear step in the right direction.
It’s been a story for so long it’s become a meme: San Francisco’s defence had a historically poor 2024 campaign—ranking 29th in points allowed, 26th in takeaways, and near the bottom in defensive EPA. The shocking levels of leakage at the back finally led to the firing of defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen.
After getting rid of Sorensen, the 49ers moved to rehire Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator in January, who came back thanks to one potentially fruitful condition: bringing in his longtime mentor, Gus Bradley, as assistant head coach of defence.
“I’ve been with Gus for a long time and just [have] so much respect for him,” Saleh told reporters. “While our philosophies are the same, I should say we look at it differently, if that makes sense. And it’s kind of a good yin and yang. He sees my blind spots and I can see his. ... But just the overall trust and working relationship that he and I have and just overall philosophy, I think he’s as trustworthy as it gets.”
49ers have some real brainpower on their defensive staff. Here is Gus Bradley (former head coach and DC) — who has a vivacious personality — joking about his longstanding relationship with Robert Saleh: pic.twitter.com/TotYHwAu9N
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 3, 2025
Saleh-Bradley reunion ‘a no-brainer’
Saleh, the former 49ers DC, and Bradley, ex-Jaguars head coach, have deep ties. They first worked together in Seattle, where Bradley’s defence excelled, and crossed paths again in Jacksonville, when Saleh served as his linebackers coach.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner wrote that “it’s always been a matter of time for Bradley to end up in San Francisco,” adding “through it all, Saleh and Bradley stayed in touch... it became something of a no-brainer for Saleh and Bradley to reunite in San Francisco.”
“Gus, I have as much respect for as any coach I’ve been around, going against him a ton, how good he has been,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted on the new incomings. “I just feel very fortunate to get him here. Saleh’s been with him for a long time. They have different personalities, but they’re from very similar backgrounds, so I think it’s really cool for Saleh to have him to bounce ideas off of and kind of to challenge him in certain ways. ... I think he’s been one of our huge additions this offseason.”
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