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Johnson’s statement didn’t mention anything out of the ordinary, framing the decision as based purely on the team’s performance. However, many now believe that a shocking political aspect may have played a part in this sudden move.
New York sports radio host Joe Benigno, a well-known Jets fan, has sparked a political conversation surrounding Saleh’s dismissal. In a discussion with radio host Jake Asman, Benigno speculated that Saleh’s recent political expression may have contributed to his firing.
“I gotta say something else and I hate to get political but I have to in this case,” Benigno stated, opening the door to a theory about Saleh’s departure.
Saleh, the NFL’s first Muslim head coach, is of Lebanese descent. His parents immigrated to the United States from Lebanon, and Saleh has never shied away from celebrating his heritage. During the Jets’ game in London, Saleh wore a patch of the Lebanese flag as part of the NFL’s Heritage Program, which allows coaches and players to honor their ethnic backgrounds.
But, according to Benigno, this simple expression of pride in his Lebanese roots may have had unintended consequences, given the heightened political tensions in the Middle East.
“Saleh had the flag of Lebanon on his shirt the other day in London,” Benigno said, referring to the game against the Vikings. “Now we all know what’s going on in the Middle East. There is no sugarcoating of what’s going on… Hezbollah firing all these rockets out of Lebanon…into Israel.”
Benigno hinted that the choice to wear the Lebanese flag at such a sensitive time might have caused friction with Jets ownership. Specifically, Woody Johnson — who served as the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain during the Trump administration — could have viewed the gesture in a negative light. The Lebanese flag, while a symbol of national pride for Saleh, is also associated with Hezbollah, a militant group that operates within Lebanon and is involved in the ongoing conflict with Israel.
Although there’s no official confirmation from the Jets, Benigno’s theory has quickly gained traction. Saleh’s decision to wear the Lebanese flag, while likely intended to honor his heritage, came at a time when news about Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on Israel was making headlines. Benigno noted that the story broke into mainstream media, potentially creating a public relations nightmare for the Jets organization.
“. . . We know he is Muslim. I think he is representing the people of Lebanon because I don’t believe the people of Lebanon really are happy with Hezbollah,” Benigno explained. “And I wonder if that has played into this in a way as well because I did see this on the regular news that this was actually brought up.”
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If true, Saleh’s firing would mark a rare instance of political factors influencing the fate of an NFL head coach. While Woody Johnson’s official statement centered on the team’s poor record, the speculation surrounding the political implications of Saleh’s Lebanese flag patch cannot be ignored.
With Saleh out and Ulbrich stepping in as interim coach, the Jets will be looking to turn their season around. But, as Benigno suggests, the fallout from Saleh’s firing may extend beyond the football field and into broader discussions about how sports and politics intersect in today’s world.
For now, Saleh’s future remains uncertain. Whether his dismissal was truly a result of the Jets’ record or whether his political expression played a larger role remains the subject of speculation. Regardless, his departure marks one of the most politically charged exits in recent NFL history.
