Robert Saleh

Former New York Jets Head Coach and the NFL’s first Muslim American head coach, Robert Saleh has been praised by Richard Sherman, former NFL cornerback, as a “great leader of men.” After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Northern Michigan, playing tight end and earning all-conference honors on the football team, Saleh entered his career as an NFL coach and exuberant leader on and off the field. Saleh is a family-oriented, highly admired father of seven children and brother to David, who was in the South Tower and escaped during the attacks on September 11th, 2001.

Saleh’s first NFL break came with the Houston Texans in 2005, where he was brought in to serve as the quality-control coach for Gary Kubiak’s defense. Saleh’s enthusiasm captured the hearts of his players while his intellect won over the coaching staff, opening the doors for other NFL opportunities, which included a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013 and a high- profile defensive coordinator position with the San Francisco 49ers; led by Saleh’s reliable defense, the storied franchise was able to make a Super Bowl run in 2019. After signing a five-year contract as head coach for the New York Jets at the start of 2021, Saleh hopes to bring greater diversity to his coaching staff and the league.

Known for his high energy and hype on the sideline, Saleh’s highly respected impact on the NFL will be far greater than football. Off the field, he is a charismatic, captivating speaker, well known for his speech on the ‘10 Lessons of Coaching,’ and focuses on targeting conversations around identity, authenticity, humility, accountability and preparation. Robert Saleh is passionate and devoted to mentoring others both in and out of the locker room. With two years of head coaching under his belt in New York, Saleh is eager to find more speaking engagements and continue sharing his lessons for success.

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