Deshea Townsend oversaw a Detroit Lions secondary that finished 30th in NFL in pass defense this season but tied for the fifth-most interceptions.

The San Francisco 49ers might be turning back the clock by interviewing former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh for their open defensive coordinator position. Saleh left the exact role with the 49ers following the 2020 season to become the Jets coach.

The San Francisco 49ers officially announced that they interviewed Robert Saleh for their vacant defensive coordinator position. Over the next week or two, more names should continue to trickle in. The Niners also interviewed another external candidate Thursday afternoon.

Townsend interviewed for San Francisco's vacant defensive coordinator spot Thursday, the 49ers announced via social media. They also interviewed former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh, who was San Francisco's defensive coordinator from 2017-20.

The San Francisco 49ers began their search for a new defensive coordinator by interviewing Robert Saleh for a second stint at the job and Detroit Lions assistant Deshea Townsend.

The San Francisco 49ers aren't wasting any time getting their defensive coordinator interviews done. On Thursday the team announced they completed two interviews for that position, including their former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh,

The team has interviewed former New York Jets coach Robert Saleh and current Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend for the opening. Saleh coordinated the 49ers’ defense under coach Kyle Shanahan from 2017-2020 before being hired as the Jets’ head coach.