Robert Saleh Lebanon flag explained: Reviewing Jets coach’s firing, patch-wearing history

The Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. He led New York to a 2-3 record in 2024 and was relieved of his coaching duties before a Week 6 “Monday Night Football” game against the Bills.

Saleh was hired in 2021 and had a 20-36 coaching record with New York. Although Saleh didn’t have a reliable player at quarterback until this year, team owner Woody Johnson felt he had seen enough. New York will now turn to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich for the remainder of the season.

While Saleh’s firing was due to team performance, the internet will find a way to stir up controversy. During the team’s game against the Vikings in Week 5, Saleh wore a team sweatshirt with a Lebanese flag patch on his arm. That led some fans to question whether that appearance played a role in his firing.

The Sporting News explains why Saleh wore the badge and examines whether it was related to his firing.

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Robert Saleh Lebanon flag, explained

Saleh was born in Michigan but is also of Lebanese descent. He was the first Muslim head coach in NFL history and is the fourth Arab-American head coach in history, joining Ed Khayat, Rich Kotite and Abe Gibron, all of whom are also of Lebanese descent.

Both of Saleh’s parents were born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States before his birth in 1979.

As a nod to his heritage, Saleh decided to wear the Lebanese flag on his arm during at least two NFL games.

How long has Robert Saleh been carrying a Lebanese flag?

Saleh doesn’t wear the flag every week, but he has worn the badge before. That’s exactly what he did during a game last October. Some interpreted Saleh’s carrying of the flag as a political statement. The fighting between Israel and Lebanon – related to the Israeli-Palestinian war – began weeks before Saleh wore the flag on his sleeve in 2023.

However, at the time, the NFL encouraged players and coaches to wear patches that represented their heritage. Players placed stickers of their flags on the back of their helmets, while coaches placed a patch on their team gear.

Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President of Club Business, International Affairs and Events, had this to say about the initiative:

As we continue to prioritize the growth of the NFL worldwide, we are proud that our players and coaches honor their heritage through the NFL Heritage Program. This initiative allows us to celebrate the heritage, families and cultures that make up the fabric of the league and clearly demonstrates the growing global reach and impact of the sport of football and the NFL.

Other players and coaches who have participated in wearing a sticker or patch include former head coach Bill Belichick (Croatia), quarterback Kyler Murray (South Korea), tight end Dalton Kincaid (Canada), wide receiver DJ Moore ( Jamaica), wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (Germany) and Giants head coach Brian Daboll (Canada).

With the Israeli-Palestinian war still ongoing, some suggested that Saleh wore the patch in Week 5 as a symbol rather than a nod to his heritage.

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Where is Robert Saleh from?

Saleh was born on January 31, 1979 in Dearborn, Michigan. His parents, Sam and Fatin, both came to the United States from Lebanon earlier in their lives.

Robert’s father, Sam, played college football for Eastern Michigan University.

Why did the Jets fire Robert Saleh?

Saleh’s firing came as a surprise, but it wasn’t the actual act of firing that was shocking, but the timing. Saleh was fired just days after the Jets lost to the Vikings in London, England. He reportedly attended team meetings on Monday and was expected to take on a similar role on Tuesday before being surprised by his dismissal.

Saleh’s tenure with the Jets was marred by poor quarterback play in his first few seasons. These issues led to Saleh going 18-33 in his first three years with the Jets. New York thought it had found an answer to those problems after acquiring Aaron Rodgers, but that didn’t work last season after an injury in Week 1 ended his 2023 season.

Rodgers is healthy this year, but a 2-3 start wasn’t considered good enough by a team owner who sees the team in winning mode.

Saleh finished his tenure with the Jets with a record of 20-36.

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Who owns the Jets?

The Jets belong to Woody Johnson. He is a businessman specializing in private investments.

Johnson purchased the Jets in 2000 for $635 million, which was the third-highest price for a sports franchise at the time.

Johnson didn’t technically hire Saleh. At the time, Johnson was serving as U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom as part of President Donald Trump’s administration. While Johnson served in this role, his brother Christopher took over the management of the Jets.

Christopher is technically the one who hired Saleh as the new head coach.

Woody resumed his position with the Jets in 2021 but remains a major political donor. In the years since Johnson’s return, Saleh apparently hasn’t done enough to impress. And Johnson will look for his own coach after the 2024 NFL season.