Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh was spotted on Tuesday for the first time since he was fired by the franchise, as he was seen making a visit to a New Jersey grocery store.
Saleh, who was relieved of his duties following the Jets’ loss to the Vikings in London, was pictured at a Whole Foods in Florham Park – the same town where Gang Green practices.
The 45-year-old donned a grey hoodie and blue jeans as he did some shopping, finishing off the look with a white pair of Nike Air Maxes.
In London, the coach had worn (not for the first time) a Lebanon flag patch on his sweatshirt during the loss to Minnesota as bombing went on in the Lebanese capital of Beirut – amid Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah.
There had been some speculation that Saleh, whose parents are from Lebanon, was fired for wearing the patch, though TMZ later reported that it wasn’t a factor in the decision.
Robert Saleh was spotted doing some grocery shopping following his ouster from the Jets
The coach wore a grey hoodie and blue jeans for the outing in Florham Park, New Jersey
There was speculation that Saleh was fired because of his choice to wear a Lebanon flag
On Tuesday a reporter from the outlet posed that same question to Saleh, and he didn’t answer.
Saleh was also asked if people could expect to see him on a sideline again soon, to which he said, ‘God willing.’
There were also suggestions that quarterback Aaron Rodgers may have played a role in having Saleh fired amid the team’s difficult start to the season.
However, the quarterback branded those allegations patently false’.
‘Yesterday was a day that reminds you of the simple fact that all of us who played know all too well… and that’s that it’s a tough business,’ Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show.
‘I love coach Saleh, we have a very solid relationship that we had since I met him in 2021. He was a big reason why I came to the Jets.’
Robert Saleh’s decision to wear a Lebanon flag was reportedly not why the Jets fired him
Saleh lost his job with the Jets after the team lost to the Minnesota Vikings in London
Aaron Rodgers has admitted that his poor form may have cost Saleh his job
Rodgers also shared his belief on the show that Saleh would have been safe if the quarterback had started the season in better form.
The 40-year-old missed essentially all of last season with an Achilles tear and has yet to top 300 yards passing for the Jets.
He also has five interceptions in six games thus far.
Nonetheless, Saleh’s firing was the first of many changes to occur for the Jets.
First, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim head coach.
Afterwards, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was demoted, with Todd Downing taking over play-calling duties.
Saleh’s supermarket outing came in Florham Park, New Jersey – the town where the Jets practice
Ex-Jets coach Saleh told TMZ that ‘God willing’ he’d be back on an NFL sideline soon
Saleh oversaw a 20-36 record in New York but also produced one of the league’s best defenses
The Jets have also traded for All-Pro wideout – and close friend of Rodgers – Davante Adams.
In Saleh’s time as head coach – in which the team went 20-36, the Jets routinely put out one of the league’s strongest defenses – a unit which he oversaw given his prior experience as a defensive coordinator.
However, even with Rodgers back this season, Gang Green got off to a rough start this season offensively, averaging just 18.6 points per game in the first five contests before Saleh was let go.
In the first game after Saleh’s firing, things didn’t go much better – as the Jets scored 20 points in a home loss to the Bills.
