D New York Jets Robert Saleh's firing as head coach shocked many.
Although owner Woody Johnson said he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas, he ultimately said he made the decision himself.
No one has revealed why Johnson decided to relieve Saleh of his duties other than that he felt the time was right. However, the longtime radio presenter drew attention to Saleh's choice of clothing during the team's match in London. Minnesota Vikings as a factor.
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New York Jets coach Robert Saleh reacts during the first half of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (Photos by Kirby Lee-Imagn)
Joe Benigno, a die-hard Jets fan and former WFAN radio host, said he believed Salih, wearing a black Jets sweatshirt with a Lebanese flag on the sleeve, had something to do with the shooting.
“I have to say something different and I hate getting into politics, but in this case I have to,” Benigno said. “The Jake Sky Show” Tuesday
Islamic group calls in jets to shoot dead Robert Salih wearing Lebanon badge during war in Israel
“The next day in London, Saleh had a Lebanese flag on his shirt. Now we all know what is happening in the Middle East. There is no sugarcoating what is happening in the Middle East. We all know that Hezbollah shoots. Rockets from Lebanon and what is happening there is happening in Israel.
“We know he is a Muslim. I think I represent the Lebanese people because I don't believe that the Lebanese people are really happy with Hezbollah. I don't think so at all. And I wonder if that's the case. also played a role because I regularly saw it on the news that it was actually mentioned.”
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh watches from the sidelines during the first half of the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)
There were people on social media who expressed dissatisfaction with Salih, who is of Lebanese origin, wearing the flag on his sleeve due to the current situation in the country.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed military group in Lebanon, has a violent history with Israel, which only escalated during the war between Israel and Hamas. The flag was seen on the day Israel bombed the Lebanese capital Beirut, a day before the October 7 anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel.
Last year, however, Saleh wore a Lebanese flag patch as part of the NFL's heritage program, which encourages players and coaches to honor their cultural background on game day with patches and stickers on their helmets. Saleh also wore the patch earlier this season.
Saleh, who became the NFL's first Muslim head coach when the Jets hired him in January 2021, is the son of Lebanese parents who immigrated to the United States before he was born.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaks to reporters after an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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In three and a half seasons at the helm of the Jets, Saleh is 20-36. He didn't have a season above .500 after going 4-13 his freshman year, followed by consecutive seasons of 7-10.
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