New York Jets fans are piling on Robert Saleh once again — even from 1,200 miles away. The former Jets head coach, now back serving as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, went viral on Sunday after a heated postgame spat with Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen.
Cameras caught the two exchanging words at midfield following Jacksonville's win, with Coen needing to be restrained as the argument escalated. This comes just days after Saleh accused Coen and the Jaguars of employing a "legally-advanced signal-stealing system" when speaking to reporters.
Coen clearly didn't take kindly to Saleh's words, shouting at the ex-Jets head coach to "keep my name out of your mouth" while staffers dragged the coaches apart.
Saleh’s newfound fire, unleashed off a different sideline, only reminds Jets fans of what they say was missing in his tenure in New York. Many were quick to take shots at him on social media following the altercation.
more fire than robert saleh showed in over 3 years as the jets head coach https://t.co/y2wAXC5vSu
— jets west (@jetstothewest) September 29, 2025
If Saleh had this mentality as HC, the Jets would’ve made the playoffs last few years https://t.co/0InCNMAfsr
— 习近平 #1 迷 (@nate2usmc) September 29, 2025
Saleh never showed this much fight as the coach of the Jets😭 https://t.co/VeZ1UmgyjU
— Benny Hates The Jets (@bennyblancooooo) September 29, 2025
Jets fans clown Robert Saleh after Liam Coen postgame altercation
Saleh was hired by the Jets in 2021 with the reputation of being a fiery, defensive-minded leader coming off a successful stint as 49ers defensive coordinator. The Jets hoped he would finally bring stability to a franchise that had churned through coaches and lost credibility around the league.
Instead, his tenure was marred by inconsistency, offensive ineptitude, and a string of collapses that kept the team from ever breaking through. Despite overseeing one of the NFL’s most talented young defenses, Saleh never managed to pair it with even average quarterback play or offensive production.
The Jets repeatedly stumbled in close games, and his increasingly stoic sideline demeanor eventually drew criticism from fans who felt he lacked urgency or accountability.
The Jets parted ways with Saleh last October after an underwhelming 2–3 start to the 2024 season. He wrapped up his tenure in New York with a 20–36 record over three full years, the third-worst mark in franchise history among coaches with at least 30 games, behind only Rich Kotite and Adam Gase.
The decision to move on when the Jets did was a shocking one, and it didn't exactly yield encouraging results, as the team went just 3-9 under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, while the locker room crashed and burned in embarrassing fashion.
Following a brief stint as a consultant with Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers, Saleh reunited with Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers in January, returning to the same position he held prior to his Jets hire.
Saleh has already shown glimpses in San Francisco of the fiery, animated persona he once brought to New York, before years of losing and constant media scrutiny seemed to wear him down.
Jets fans spent years waiting to see this version of Robert Saleh in Florham Park, only for it to resurface the moment he left. Now, all they can do is watch from afar as the coach they once hoped would change their franchise finds new life on the other side of the country.