Does former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh have revenge on his mind as he approaches a rematch with his old team?
Nope; at least, not according to Saleh’s public statements to the media.
Speaking on Tuesday, 12 days out from the Tennessee Titans’ season opener against the Jets, Saleh discussed his mindset going into the rematch.
“I don’t BS when I say it: New York (the Jets) is still a special place. They gave me my first opportunity as a head coach. Our desire to win Week 1 and beat the Jets is because it’s Week 1 and nothing more. I’m forever grateful for all the opportunity they gave. I don’t hold grudges.”
Saleh continued to praise some of the young players on the Jets’ roster whom he coached during his time with the team.
“It’s fun to turn on the tape and look at Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall and all the guys that we had, whether it was Will McDonald, Jeremy Ruckert’s still rolling, (Olu) Fashanu has grown so much, we had him as a rookie. Those backs, Isaiah Davis, Braelon Allen. They’re studs, all the way across the board. It’s a really good group. They’re doing a really good job, and they’ve got a hell of an offense and a chance to be really, really good.
“A lot of new faces on defense, but a lot of guys that, you look at their names and their roster, a lot of guys that you respect, a lot of guys who have played a lot of really good football. So, really under the radar team I think, they’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”
The Jets will visit the Titans at 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, Sept. 13, in Saleh’s debut as Tennessee’s head coach. He will join Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the second active NFL head coach who once held the same role for the Jets.
