From Tragedy To Triumph: Robert Saleh On How The Horror of 9/11 Shifted His Career Goals And Contributed To His Historic Journey To Become The NFL’s First Muslim Coach
The new Jets head coach, who made history last week with his appointment in the national football league, reveals how he and his family were impacted by the Twin Tower attacks and the significance of his appointment.
As Robert Saleh transitions into his new position as head coach of the New York Jets, he gave insight on his historical links with City and how he was personally affected by one of it’s most tragic events.
When he was 22, Saleh was working in a finance business in Detroit when the World Trade Center was taken down in a deadly terrorist attack. His older brother, David, was at the heels of the tragedy working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on the day of the attack. He had a narrow escape — 2,606 lost their lives in that attack alone.
“I think everyone — somehow, some way — is somewhat impacted from 9/11,” Saleh said in a news conference Thursday. “And, you know, going through my brother’s experience and the tragedy that he experienced, being able to self-reflect on what I was doing at that moment and realizing that I had a passion for football really triggered this whole thing.”
Saleh reevaluated his life and pursued his dream of becoming a professional football coach. He began coaching at the collegiate level and after four years, he moved up to managing league teams in Houston, Seattle and Jacksonville before eventually making his mark in 2017 as a defensive coordinator for San Francisco.
Saleh says it was during his final interview with the Jets that he realized he was meant to return to New York just as he did in the 2014 Superbowl on staff with the Seattle Seahawks.
“It felt like I was back home,” Saleh said. “It felt like I was talking to the people of my community. There is a sense of togetherness. Everybody is communicating, there’s a collaboration. There’s a sense that everyone has each other’s back and there’s a sense of family, which is very, very important to me.”
“So when I left this building, there was nothing that I wanted more than to have a call back to get back here.”
His start with the Jets will align with the 20th anniversary of 9/11 which Saleh sees as a sign that his career has come full circle.
“I’m supposed to be here and I believe that God does things for a reason,” Saleh said. “And I believe this is one of them. And I’m really, really excited to be here and continue this journey with Jets Nation.”
Saleh knows he has a challenging road ahead with the Jets finishing second to last in the league this past season. However, he is grateful to have the chance to return the team to its former glory.
“You can’t hide from the past,” he said. “But you can encourage people to judge you on the future.”
Saleh says his appointment is ‘humbling’ and he feels the momentousness of the occasion.
“Especially back home, where I'm from, Dearborn, Michigan, there is a lot of pride so it's a very humbling experience,” Saleh said. “When you look at an NFL organization and you look at the locker room, it's like the ultimate melting pot of different people and different races and different stories that get together with one goal. To be a part of that is special.”
