Robert Saleh got his first break into the NFL in 2005 as a defensive intern with the Houston Texans. Saleh, a former Division-II tight end and college assistant coach, aimed to quickly impress his new boss. But he soon learned that Vic Fangio can be a tough nut to crack.

“I think his first meaningful words he said to me were by about Week 8,” Saleh said with a chuckle.

Saleh, now entering his third season as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, was back on the same football field with his old boss Friday at UCHealth Training Center as the Broncos host joint training camp practices with San Francisco. Saleh spent only one season with Fangio as defensive coordinator in Houston before staff changes, and still, the imprint was profound — even with some initial silence.

“Now that I actually know him, I realize it was nothing personal, it’s just his personality,” Saleh said. “He’s a great man and it was a great learning experience to be with him.”

It’s no surprise that opposing defensive coaches might gush over Fangio. After 32 seasons roaming NFL sidelines — including 19 as a defensive coordinator between the Panthers, Colts, Texans, 49ers and Bears — Fangio has mentored countless young coaches on their rise in the profession.

And Fangio never stopped chasing his own dreams, either, while enduring 33 years between his first NFL gig in 1986 as linebackers coach with the New Orleans Saints and leading the Broncos into 2019 as a first-time head coach.

It all begs the question: What took so long?

“That’s more of a question for management,” Saleh said. “He should have been a head coach a long time ago.”

Among the detours on Fangio’s career path to Denver was a one-season stint as Stanford’s defensive coordinator in 2010, where he encountered fifth-year senior Richard Sherman, now a 49ers’ cornerback entering his ninth NFL season.

Sherman, a first-team All-Pro selection in three of his seven seasons in Seattle, also has fond memories with Fangio. Their 2010 Stanford squad went 12-1 with an Orange Bowl victory while the defense posted three Pac-12 shutouts.

“I know Vic very well,” Sherman said. “He’s a great coach and a great coordinator. He’s very straightforward and a straight-shooter. One of the best football minds out there.”

Count Sherman among those who celebrated Denver’s head coaching decision after Fangio established himself among the game’s best defensive minds. The mutual respect among competitors on Friday and Saturday for joint training camp practices is strong.

“I think a lot of people just missed on (hiring Fangio),” Sherman said. “I think he should have been a head coach a long time ago. … I think this is the right fit. He’s been great in this league for a long time and I’m happy for him.”

Quarterback connection. Fangio was not the only Broncos coach to receive praise from a Niner on Friday. Denver offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello spent the past two seasons as San Fransisco’s quarterbacks coach and mentored starter Jimmy Garoppolo from the time he was traded from New England to his injury-shortened 2018 season.

“Rich is awesome,” Garoppolo said. “Since the day I got traded here he was the first guy to start teaching me the offense. … He’s a guy who works hard, does a great job and he’s a great coach.”