Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh downplays revenge game narrative in Week 1

What did Saleh say?

Charlie Baduini

Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh / DENNY SIMMONS / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Before the NFL regular season schedule release, every NFL team already knew which teams they would be facing in 2026, just not the exact order.

Every New York Jets fan has had one game circled since January, and that's a date with the Tennessee Titans down in Nashville. The major reason why? Former head coach Robert Saleh.

Saleh, the Jets head coach from 2021 to 2024, is now the head coach in Tennessee, his first chance at the leading sideline gig since his time in New York.

And of course, as the schedule makers often do for the Jets, they made sure that the grudge match to end all grudge matches will be both teams' start to the 2026 season.

Robert Saleh downplays revenge game factor in Week 1 matchup against Jets

Saleh was asked on Thursday about the impending Week 1 matchup between himself and his former team, and downplayed the narrative that there's any bad blood between himself and the Jets.

"I've said it before, I'm appreciative for the Jets and everything that I had. It's been over a year and a half now in the NFL, it's kind of like 10 years. It's to be expected with the NFL, but I didn't think anything of it."
Robert Saleh

Saleh can try and downplay it all he wants, but it's all Jets and Titans fans will be thinking about until September rolls around.

Not only is the narrative there between Jets fans and their former head coach, but there are several former Jets who now play for the Titans that will be looking to prove New York wrong for letting them go.

Defenders John Franklin-Myers, Jermaine Johnson, and Tony Adams will be looking to stick it to the Jets offense, while running back Michael Carter will look to capitalize on any touches he gets.

On the other hand, there are some former Titans who will be looking forward to getting their own lick backs who are currently on the Jets.

Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat and nickel cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. were both traded away by general manager Mike Borgonzi and have made it clear they're looking forward to their return to Nashville.

Saleh can downplay it all he wants. There's going to be a little extra something to play for by the time Week 1 rolls around.

Charlie Baduini

Charlie Baduini covers the New York Jets as a site expert for The Jet Press and FanSided. He is a sports journalist based in Northern New Jersey with a wide variety of sports reporting experience in print and broadcast journalism. Baduini’s byline can also be seen on Heavy and The Sporting News, where he covers several teams across the NFL and NBA. His work has been featured in Heavy, Athlon Sports, The Sporting News, Yahoo Sports, MSN, and Yardbarker. He also serves as a seasonal intern for ESPN, working as a production assistant for the Heisman Trophy Ceremony every year since 2022. Baduini has been a Jets fan for as long as he can remember, with his family's fandom dating back to the 1960s when his grandfather, Louis, became a season ticket holder. His family has since held on to the tickets to this day. He is an avid fan of the New York Knicks and New York Mets.