San Francisco 49ers Coach Turns Heads With Comments on Key Position Battle

When it was announced on January 24, 2025 that the San Francisco 49ers were bringing Robert Saleh back to be their defensive coordinator once again, 49ers fans grew excited at the prospect of seeing Saleh work with the defense again. 

The 49ers have become known for their elite defense throughout the 2020s. That all started with Saleh, who previously served as defensive coordinator for the 49ers from 2017-2020. 

He led a 49ers defensive unit in 2019 that fueled the team’s 13-3 record and an appearance in Super Bowl LIV. 

So if anybody knows what it takes to be a great defender, it’s Saleh. 

One of the key position battles that 49ers fans are watching this offseason is at weakside linebacker. With Dre Greenlaw having departed to the Denver Broncos, the 49ers incumbent at the position is Dee Winters. 

But, the 49ers didn’t seem to have complete faith in Winters earlier in the offseason. In the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers selected Nick Martin with the 75th overall pick out of Oklahoma State to directly compete with Winters. 

Fortunately for Winters, after the conclusion of minicamp on June 11, 2025, Saleh seems to be pretty impressed with him now. 

“He’s got something to him,” Saleh said after minicamp June 11. “I don’t want to jinx him or anything, but if he stays on his trajectory and he attacks these next 40 days and he does things the right way, I think he’s due for a heck of a season.”

Martin has been impressive this offseason as well, but that’s as clear of an indication that Winters is on the inside track to earn the starting job as you’ll ever get out of an NFL coach.