The San Francisco 49ers will welcome in a familiar foe, the New York Jets, on Monday night for their first season opener at Levi's® Stadium since the 2020 season. The Jets and 49ers haven't actually played each other in the regular season since 2021 and also haven't battled it out on "Monday Night Football" in nearly 25 years, but the reason the term "familiar" seems fitting here is because there are a lot of close connections between the two organizations.
For starters, Jets head coach Robert Saleh is a former defensive coordinator for San Francisco (2017-2020) and one of three former Kyle Shanahan assistants that have gone on to secure head coaching positions in the league. Saleh part of that first wave of Shanahan hires in 2017, and Monday will mark the first time the two will face each other in a regular season matchup.
The now Jets head coach went on to construct a defense that closed out the year at No. 2 overall in 2019 and boasted a formidable defensive line that racked up 48 sacks on the year. Saleh played a role in adding defensive lineman Nick Bosa in the first round ahead of the season.
"He brought me here, or had a hand in doing it at least," Bosa said. "I'll always be thankful to him. He was a great coach. He worked really well with defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and just let Kris do his stuff with us. It worked out."
Saleh was also had an early impact on the career of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, a fifth round pick in 2018.
"I owe a ton to Coach Saleh, as I know him," Warner said. "He means so much to me from the moment I stepped in this building on my 30 visit, him showing confidence in me as a player and then obviously to give me the nod as the Mike linebacker in my rookie year, that takes a lot of guts to give a rookie that power.
"I'm so happy for him and his success, hopefully not very successful on Monday night, of course, but I owe a lot to him. (He's) right there with DeMeco (Ryans). Him and Coach Saleh were huge in my development."
Other existing ties to San Francisco include defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw who signed with the Jets in the offseason after spending his first four seasons with the 49ers.
For QB1 Brock Purdy, Monday will mark college football reunion with former Iowa State teammate Breece Hall, a now do-it-all running back for New York.
