Islamic group demands answers from Jets over Saleh firing

The Council on American-Islamic relations has called out the New York Jets amid reports Robert Saleh was physically escorted out of 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 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in London at the weekend.

According to multiple reports, Saleh was physically escorted from the team's HQ by security after being told he was fired by owner Woody Johnson. 

It comes amid Saleh wearing a Lebanon pin during Sunday's Vikings game in the wake of Israel's strikes on Beirut. Saleh is Lebanese-American, born in Michigan to Lebanese parents.

The reports of how Saleh's departure was handled did not go unnoticed by CAIR, who said in a statement on Tuesday: 'We commend Coach Robert Saleh for making history as the first American Muslim head coach in NFL history. 

Read More

Aaron Rodgers' response to Robert Saleh's Jets firing, delaying Pat McAfee appearance by 24 hours

'Although no one should jump to conclusions about why the Jets fired Coach Saleh, the report that Jets security physically escorted Saleh out of the building does raise concerns about the possible motive for such unusual hostility — especially given that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin at a game just days ago and that owner Woody Johnson is a former Trump administration official who has been accused of making racially charged remarks. 

'We encourage the Jets to thoroughly explain its unusually hostile reported treatment of Coach Saleh.'

When Saleh became Jets head coach in January 2021, he spoke of his pride at 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 that get together with one goal,' he said. 'To be a part of that is special.'

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 9/11.

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 the North Tower hit first and had made it down to the 24th floor when the South Tower was struck.

'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 said to ESPN of how the day impacted him.

Despite the rocky start to the season by the Jets, Saleh's departure still came as a shock on Tuesday.

Reports on Tuesday night emerged claiming that 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 on Wednesday's show.

Jets owner Johnson, meanwhile, said in a statement: 'This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets.

'I thanked him for his hard work these past three-and-a-half years and wished him and his family well moving forward. This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.'

The Jets have not yet responded to claims Saleh was escorted out of their headquarters.