Jets New Hire Robert Saleh Becomes NFL’s 1st Muslim Head Coach

The New York Jets made history by hiring Robert Saleh who became the first Muslim head coach in the NFL. He signed a 5 year contract as head coach for the Jets. Before being hired by the Jets, he was a defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. On January 14, 2020 the New York Jets hired him as head coach.

We’ve reached an agreement in principle with Robert Saleh to become our head coach.

📰 https://t.co/CiIczkN97j pic.twitter.com/NC3nW27uNa

— New York Jets (@nyjets) January 15, 2021

 Tweet from @nyjets

Muslim Community is Excited about Robert Saleh

The Muslim community is celebrating this moment because it is a historic moment for all Muslims who love Football. Coach Saleh will inspire more Muslims to get a career in Football. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) spokesperson Ibrahim Hoover released a statement expressing his happiness by Coach Saleh making history.

Ibrahim Hoover said “We welcome this development as another sign of the increasing inclusion and recognition of American Muslims in our diverse society”

Saleh family can trace to their roots to Lebanon. The New York Jets made the NFL more inclusive for people of different faiths. Hiring Saleh to be their head coach making him the first Muslim to do so. Moments like this in sports happens once in a blue moon and seeing history be made is something special.