Reports have confirmed that New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh‘s decision to wear a Lebanon flag patch on his uniform had no influence on the team’s decision to fire him, despite significant controversy surrounding the gesture. Saleh, whose parents are of Lebanese descent, sported the flag during the Jets’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
His choice came amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, with Beirut, Lebanon’s capital, experiencing heavy bombings. The timing of Saleh’s gesture, a day before the anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel, intensified the debate around his actions.
While Saleh had worn similar patches in the past without incident, this particular instance ignited a firestorm of reactions from fans, dividing opinions across social media and in the sports world.
Two days after the Vikings game, Jets owner Woody Johnson made the shocking announcement that Saleh had been fired.
Many immediately speculated that the flag patch, worn in a highly charged political context, played a role in the decision. Radio personality Joe Benigno was among those who suggested that Saleh’s public display of support for Lebanon might have contributed to his dismissal.
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However, according to TMZ, the flag patch had nothing to do with Saleh’s firing. The Jets’ management, including Johnson, reportedly made the decision based on the team’s performance rather than any political statement by the head coach.
Nonetheless, the controversy surrounding Saleh’s removal continues to grow. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a public statement demanding clarity from the Jets organization. CAIR expressed concern over reports that Saleh was physically escorted out of the team’s facility by security, raising questions about whether his display of the Lebanese flag influenced the treatment he received. “
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,” CAIR stated.
CAIR also pointed out that Jets owner Woody Johnson, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom under the Trump administration, has been accused of making racially insensitive comments in the past, further complicating the narrative around Saleh’s firing.
The organization called on the Jets to provide a full explanation of the circumstances surrounding Saleh’s departure, adding, “We encourage the Jets to thoroughly explain its unusually hostile reported treatment of Coach Saleh.”
As the speculation continued to swirl, Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is currently sidelined with an injury, was forced to address rumors that he played a role in the firing. On The Pat McAfee Show, Rodgers vehemently denied having any involvement, calling the allegations “patently false.”
“Yesterday was a day that reminds you of the simple fact that all of us who played know all too well… it’s a tough business,” Rodgers said, reflecting on the nature of the NFL. “I love coach Saleh. We have a very solid relationship that we’ve had since I met him in 2021. He was a big reason why I came to the Jets.”
Rodgers went on to express frustration over the accusations that he had pushed for Saleh’s firing, saying, “I resent any of those accusations, and they’re patently false. It’s interesting the amount of power people think I have, which I don’t.”
As of now, the Jets have yet to provide a comprehensive explanation for Saleh’s abrupt departure. The firing has sparked widespread speculation and drawn the attention of various groups, including CAIR, who are demanding answers.
In the meantime, the team moves forward without the coach who had been at the helm since 2021, leaving fans and observers to wonder whether the decision was purely football-related or if other factors, including Saleh’s political expression, played a part.
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