Robert Saleh is asked if carrying the Lebanese flag led to the firing of jets – how did he react?

Robert Saleh was seen in public for the first time since being fired as head coach of the New York Jets.

The former trainer was seen shopping at a local Whole Foods in northern New Jersey this week in footage obtained by TMZ.

In the footage, Saleh was asked if he believed he carried the Lebanese flag in his final game as head coach, which led to him being sacked after just five games of the season.

Saleh didn’t answer the question and eventually drove away.

The Jets released Saleh after a loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Jets chairman Woody Johnson confirmed in an Oct. 8 statement that he made the decision himself.

“This was not an easy decision, but we are not yet where our expectations should be and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction,” the statement said.

During the defeat in London, Saleh was seen wearing the pin on his jacket. The decision to wear the pin came amid Israel’s ongoing attacks on the nation in the days leading up to the game.

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Saleh is of Lebanese descent and was the first Muslim head coach in NFL history. Both of Saleh’s parents were born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States before his birth in 1979. Previously, Saleh wore the Lebanese flag on his arm during a game against the Giants, just weeks after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

Saleh wore the patch the week that Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice president of club business, released a statement asking players to represent their heritage by placing stickers on the back of their helmets with their flags, while coaches attached a patch to their team gear.

49ERS coach Kyle Shanahan explains why he was “pretty shocked” when the Jets fired Robert Saleh

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh congratulates running back Breece Hall and quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a touchdown against the New England Patriots on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Shortly after Saleh’s firing, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) released a statement calling on the Jets and Johnson to explain this in multiple reports Saleh was reportedly escorted After his release, he was thrown out of the building by security and also mentioned the fact that Saleh was fired just days after wearing the pin.

“We commend Coach Robert Saleh for making history as the first American Muslim head coach in NFL history. 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 this unusual hostility – especially given the The fact that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin at a game a few days ago.”

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New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh from the sideline against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

Fox News Digital previously reached out to the Jets for comment on CAIR’s statement but did not receive a response.

Meanwhile, Saleh released his own statement on October 9th, thanking the Jets for his time with the team.

“I am grateful to the Jets Organization for the opportunity to work with so many incredible people. I will always be grateful for the love and support from everyone at 1 Jets Drive,” he said in a statement to ESPN. “To the NFL’s most passionate fan base: Thank you for hugging my family. It has been a pleasure to call New York home and we will forever cherish all the memories made here.”

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