Did New York Jets fire coach Robert Saleh for wearing Lebanese flag amid Israel war?

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for the New York Jets to clarify the circumstances under which head coach Robert Saleh was fired amid reports of the coach being escorted out of the team's offices by security staff.

Days before his sacking, the Lebanese-American football coach wore a Lebanon flag patch to what would be his final game for the team. The gesture came amid Israel's latest assault on Lebanon, where 2,119 people were killed and 10,019 others wounded.

"Although no one should jump to conclusions about why the Jets fired Coach Saleh, the report that Jets security physically escorted Saleh out of the building does raise concerns about the possible motive for such unusual hostility — especially given that Saleh wore a Lebanese flag pin at a game just days ago and that owner Woody Johnson is a former Trump administration official who has been accused of making racially charged remarks," CAIR said in a statement.

"We encourage the Jets to thoroughly explain its unusually hostile reported treatment of Coach Saleh."

The New York Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday following a 2-3 start to his fourth season. 

"This is probably the best team I've had in 25 years," Jets owner Johnson said on a conference call with reporters.

"I just felt that the best way to go forward with a new direction. Taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance that we all want to have, which is going to the playoffs."

The dismissal of Saleh marks the first time in Johnson's 25-year tenure that he had fired a coach during a season.

Several reports said Saleh was not allowed to address the team and was escorted from the building to his car by security.

The manner of Saleh's dismissal shocked American football fans and news outlets, with many speculating over the reasons.

"Robert Saleh was wearing the Lebanese flag on his sleeve on Sunday and today he lost his job. Probably not related, right?" wrote one X user.

"Robert Saleh got a raw deal and Aaron Rodgers undermined him every step of the way. This was downhill since @nyjets drafted Zach Wilson. Nathaniel Hackett is trash. Saleh kept the defence great through the toughest times. Raw deal," wrote New York Congressman Jamaal Bowman. 

Saleh, 45, compiled a 20-36 record with no playoff appearances in 56 games since taking over the Jets in 2021. New York last made the playoffs in the 2010 season, losing in the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year.

Saleh assumed the head coaching position of the Jets following four years as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers (2017-20). He also had coaching stints in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars (linebackers, 2014-16), Seattle Seahawks (defensive quality control, 2011-13) and Houston Texans (various roles, 2005-10). As head coach of the Jets, he became the National Football League's (NFL) first Muslim coach.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, according to team owner Woody Johnson.