The 49ers expect to have a competitive defense during the 2025 NFL season in New Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh’s second stint with San Francisco.

Don’t say star says 49ers tight end George Kittle didn’t warn you.

“Violence is coming is what I would say,” Kittle warned that NFL teams over Saleh’s new defense on Wednesday’s issue of “The Rich Eisen Show” (H/T Clutchpoints’ Lorenzo J Reyna).

The six-time pro bowl choice has already experienced Saleh’s ability to lead A formidable 49ers defense. In 2019, for example, San Francisco opponents held 19.4 points per game under Saleh on the way to a record of 13-3 regular season and a narrow Super Bowl Liv loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kittle is excited to see the results of the energy shift associated with Saleh’s presence. He does not have to name the 49ers’ previous two defensive coordinators, Nick Sorensen and Steve Wilks, but believers know that defensive confidence was missing in recent seasons, and Saleh’s previous units (2017-20) were at least motivated.

“He is very good at his job, and I am very excited that we somehow convinced him to be our defensive coordinator again,” Kittle told Eisen. “And he’s just really smart. So, I was pumped to have him back in the building, just hang out with him and talk about things. ‘

Saleh initially left the 49ers to take over the New York Jets as a first -time head coach in 2021. But now, after being fired by New York because he was 20-36 record over three-plus campaigns, Saleh is back in the Bay with an abundance of experience and presumably a motivation to prove that he belongs with the sharpest thoughts of the game.

Everything that Saleh has to bring to the table is exactly what San Francisco, who ended in 2024 with an underwhelming 6-11 record, should be back in the play-off mix.

“You can only see that he is ready to roll this year, and he is going to Let the boys be discharged”Kittle told Eisen.

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