49ers' Saleh labels Jaguars' sign-stealing as 'really advanced' ahead of Sunday showdown

San Francisco — 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh on Monday publicly labeled the Jacksonville Jaguars' sign-stealing efforts as "really advanced," ahead of their Sunday matchup in San Francisco.

Saleh said the Jaguars’ system is legal and highly sophisticated, describing it as a method that constantly finds a way to gain an advantage. "Liam and his staff, couple guys coming from Minnesota, they've got a - legally - really advanced signal-stealing type system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation," Saleh told reporters. "They do a great job of it. They formation you to just try to find any nugget they can. So we've got to be great with our signals and we've gotta be great with our communication to combat some of the tells that we might give on the field." He added that sign-stealing is a particular skill associated with the Sean McVay coaching tree, noting that Jacksonville’s coach Liam Coen previously served as McVay’s offensive coordinator with the Rams, and that Minnesota alumnus Kevin O’Connell has also been linked to the group.

"They’re almost elite in that regard. That whole entire tree from Sean to Kevin O’Connell to all of those guys, they all do it," Saleh continued. "There’s challenges. They're going to catch us in some situations where they have the advantage and we've just got to play sound, fundamental football and do our best to out-execute them." He characterized sign-stealing as the "ultimate trick" and described how Jacksonville might leverage it to gain position on the field. "Whether it's people from the sideline or whether it's our individual hand signals — whatever nugget they can find, they catch it. And they always happen to find themselves in good situations based on the coverages shown. And there's nothing illegal about it. I'm not suggesting that. It's just, you can tell they have a system that is getting them into a very advantageous position multiple times during the course of a game."

Through three games, Saleh’s defense has allowed the second-fewest points in the league at 16.3 per game. Jacksonville, meanwhile, has posted 23.3 points per game, tied for 14th in the league on offense. The teams are set to meet when the 49ers (3-0) host the Jaguars (2-1) at 4:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Saleh, who rejoined the 49ers after a stint as Jets head coach and later a Packers offensive consultant, framed the discussion as a broader issue about on-field communication and preparation. He stressed that while sign-stealing is not illegal, it requires teams to adapt quickly and maintain discipline in their own signals. The 49ers will aim to limit the efficiency of Jacksonville’s edge in preparation for a game that could test both clubs’ play-calling and execution under pressure.

The clash sits at a crossroads of technique and regulation, with defenses increasingly laser-focused on deciphering tells and offenses devising new ways to disguise coverages and alignments. Sunday’s game will further illuminate how far teams will go to gain a mental edge and whether the rule book can keep pace with evolving signaling methods. In the immediate terms, San Francisco will look to its own pressure packages and disciplined communication to neutralize any advantages Jacksonville’s approach affords.

As the NFL season unfolds, the Jaguars’ approach and the 49ers’ countermeasures will provide another data point in a sport where signals and timing can decide late scores and game outcomes. Whether teams take additional steps to protect their signs or broaden the ways they conceal information on the field, the balance between competitive edge and fair play remains a central question for players, coaches, and fans alike.