Being the first Muslim head coach in the NFL, according to Robert Saleh, is a humble experience.

 

On December 26, 2020, in Glendale, Arizona, at State Farm Stadium, Robert Saleh, a former defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, watches during a game versus the Arizona Cardinals.
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CNN —

As the first Muslim American to head coach a team in the National Football League, Robert Saleh is a historic hire for the New York Jets.

In addition, Saleh follows Abe Gibron and Rich Kotite as the third Arab American head coach in the NFL, according to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).

During his inaugural press conference on Thursday, the American Lebanese stated that becoming the first Muslim head coach in NFL history was a “humbling” experience.

It’s a very humble experience, Saleh added, “especially back home, where I’m from, Dearborn, Michigan, where there is a lot of pride.” “The locker room of an NFL franchise is like the ultimate melting pot—a diverse group of people from all backgrounds and races come together to work toward a common objective. It is unique to be a part of that

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Saleh was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers over the previous four seasons, helping the team win Super Bowl LIV in 2020.

Saleh worked as a defensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks, and Houston Texans before joining the 49ers.

Under his direction, the 49ers’ total defense in 2019 ranked second in the NFL. According to the New York Jets, the defense will rank in the top 10 in 2020 in terms of total yards, rushing yards, and passing yards.

Abed Ayoub, legal and policy director of ADC, told CNN that Robert Saleh is “a great coach who happens to be Arab and Muslim, and we couldn’t ask for a better representative of who we are as Arabs and as Muslims.”

“Sports have a very broad appeal, can unite people, and transcend all boundaries. A successful athletic career for an Arab Muslim American benefits the community at large.

Saleh recounted the day, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, that he made the decision to follow his passion for football during the press conference on Thursday.

When the jets hit the World Trade Center’s South Tower that morning, his brother David Saleh was undergoing training to become a financial adviser. He made it through, but thousands did not.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images, Robert Saleh

In a 2017 interview with Sports Illustrated, Saleh said he thought about what his life’s purpose was after nearly losing his brother, and he concluded that football was it.

“I believe that everyone is affected by 9/11 to some extent,” Saleh stated at the press conference. “And, you know, reflecting on what I was doing at the time and recognizing that I had a passion for football really ignited this whole thing,” the speaker said, referring to his brother’s experience and the sorrow he went through.