The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called out the New York Jets amid reports that Robert Saleh was physically escorted from the team building by security after being fired on Tuesday.
Saleh, the NFL’s first Muslim coach, lost his job with the Jets, 2-3 for the season, after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London last weekend.
According to to multiple reportsSaleh was physically escorted from the team’s headquarters by security after being told he had been fired by owner Woody Johnson.
It comes as Saleh wears a Lebanon pin at Sunday’s Vikings game, in the wake of the Israeli attacks on Beirut. Saleh is Lebanese-American, born in Michigan to Lebanese parents.
Reports of the handling of Saleh’s departure did not go unnoticed by CAIR, which said in a statement Tuesday: “We commend coach Robert Saleh for making history as the first Muslim American head coach in NFL history.
Robert Saleh was fired by the Jets on Tuesday – wearing a Lebanon pin in his final game
Saleh, 45, a Lebanese-American, is the first Muslim to coach an NFL team
“While no one should jump to conclusions about why the Jets fired Coach Saleh, the report that Jets security physically escorted Saleh from the building raises concerns about the possible motive for such unusual hostility – especially considering that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin as he left the building. a game just days ago and that owner Woody Johnson is a former Trump administration official who has been accused of making racially charged comments.
“We encourage the Jets to thoroughly explain the unusually hostile reported treatment of Coach Saleh.”
When Saleh became Jets head coach in January 2021, he spoke of his pride in being the first Muslim-American coach in the NFL.
“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 coming together for one purpose,” he said. ‘It’s special to be part of that.’
Saleh has previously explained that he was inspired to pursue a coaching career in the NFL when his older brother David had a lucky escape from the Twin Towers on September 11.
David was working on the 61st floor of the South Tower on the day of the attack in New York, but escaped to safety. He saw that the North Tower was hit first and had reached the 24th floor when the South Tower was hit.
“Going through my brother’s experience and the tragedy he went through, being able to reflect on what I was doing at that moment and realizing that I had a passion for football really made this whole thing happen.” said to ESPN how the day affected him.
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is said to be shocked by the news of Saleh’s departure
Saleh has previously spoken about how his brother’s escape on September 11th inspired him to become a coach
Despite the Jets’ difficult start to the season, Saleh’s departure on Tuesday came as a shock.
Reports emerged Tuesday night claiming quarterback Aaron Rodgers was “blindsided” by the news. His regular Tuesday appearance on the Pat McAfee show was postponed, but McAfee has said he expects Rodgers to be in attendance Wednesday.
Jets owner Johnson, meanwhile, said in a statement: “This morning I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as Head Coach of the Jets.
‘I thanked him for his hard work over the past three and a half years and wished him and his family a good future. This was not an easy decision, but we are not yet at the place where we should have our expectations, and I think this is the best time for us to move in a different direction.”
The Jets have not yet responded to claims that Saleh was escorted from their headquarters.