DEAN Solomon has chosen to depart Essendon after stepping up as caretaker coach in 2026 while living away from his family.

The 2000 premiership player had been offered a range of roles by the Bombers to return in 2027 under new senior coach Mark McVeigh.

But after almost 12 months living away from his wife and kids, who are based in Kingscliff in northern New South Wales, Solomon has decided to return home to be with them.

McVeigh had hoped to retain his close mate after landing his first full-time job as a senior coach.

The Bombers are understood to have explored different roles to make it work, including senior assistant, a director of coaching style role and even a fly-in, fly-out part-time option.

But with a young family settled a long way from Melbourne, where his health and wellness business is also based, Solomon informed Essendon on Friday of his decision.

Solomon returned to the Bombers in 2024 as a board member after playing 158 games for the club before finishing his career at Fremantle.

Then last October, Solomon relinquished that role to return to coaching, joining Brad Scott's panel ahead of the start of pre-season.

When Scott was sacked in May, Solomon was appointed caretaker coach and navigated a challenging few months with other coaches departing the club mid-season.

The Bombers only won one of the final 12 games of the season, while they ran a coaching process in the background.

Solomon ultimately opted out of that process, before the panel selected McVeigh over club icon James Hird, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and Adelaide coaching director Murray Davis.