Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images
The Jets aren’t done poaching 49ers staffers. It was apparent before the offseason began that Robert Saleh would almost certainly take a vacant head coaching post and would bring with him at least a handful of 49ers coaches. It’s turned out to be more than a handful.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Saleh will hire Tony Oden to coach cornerbacks and to operate as a senior defensive assistant. Oden coached defensive backs in Santa Clara after Joe Woods took over as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator. Cory Undlin, who was fired at the end of last season as the Detroit Lions’ defensive coordinator, is likely to take over Oden’s responsibilities.
The #Jets are adding two more experienced coaches on defense, hiring Marquand Manuel as safeties coach and Tony Oden as senior defensive assistant/cornerbacks coach, per sources. Manuel worked with Robert Saleh in Seattle and Oden was the #49ers DBs coach under Saleh last year.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 2, 2021
UPDATE: The Jets also swiped Mike Rutenberg from the 49ers, hiring him as their linebackers coach.
The #Jets and coach Robert Saleh have hired Mike Rutenberg as LBs coach, source said. Rutenberg spent last season as the passing game specialist with the #49ers and the seven seasons before that with Jacksonville in multiple defensive roles.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 2, 2021
All in all, Saleh’s staff contains nine recent former 49ers players or coaches:
- Mike Lafleur: Passing game coordinator, 49ers —> Offensive coordinator (playcaller), New York Jets
- Jeff Ulbrich: Linebacker, 49ers (2000-09) —> Defensive coordinator (playcaller), New York Jets
- Coached with Saleh in 2011 with the Seattle Seahawks
- Coached with Lafleur from 2015-16 with the Atlanta Falcons
- John Benton: Offensive line coach, 49ers —> Offensive line coach/run game coordinator, New York Jets
- Aaron Whitecotton: Assistant defensive line coach, 49ers —> Defensive line coach, New York Jets
- Miles Austin: Offensive quality control, 49ers (2019) —> Wide receivers coach, New York Jets
- Jon “Taylor” Embree: Offensive quality control, 49ers (2017-19), son of TE coach Jon Embree —> Running backs coach, New York Jets
- Greg Knapp: Offensive coordinator, 49ers (2001-03)
- Coached with Saleh in Houston in 2010
- Coached with Ulbrich in Atlanta from 2018-20
- Tony Oden: Defensive backs coach, 49ers —> Senior defensive assistant/cornerbacks coach, New York Jets
- Mike Rutenberg: Passing game specialist, 49ers —> Linebackers coach, New York Jets