The New York Jets are ready to move on from the Robert Saleh era. After firing their former head coach midway through last season, the team officially turned the page this offseason by hiring Aaron Glenn and ushering in a new regime.
Glenn has wasted no time putting his stamp on the franchise, and with a new coaching staff and front office in place, the Jets are focused on the future. Saleh, meanwhile, returned to his old stomping grounds in San Francisco, rejoining Kyle Shanahan’s staff as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
But if his appearance on Wednesday was any indication, Saleh might not be as quick to leave his Jets tenure in the rearview.
The veteran coach was spotted at the 49ers’ local pro day this week wearing a sweatshirt bearing his trademark mantra: AGNB — All Gas, No Brake. It’s a phrase he popularized during his first stint in San Francisco and brought with him to Florham Park once he was hired by the Jets.
But this wasn’t just any AGNB logo. The design, specifically the font and styling, looked nearly identical to the one he sported throughout his time with the Jets. Technically, it’s not a Jets logo, but to fans familiar with Saleh’s tenure in New York, the sweatshirt sparked some immediate deja vu.
Take a look for yourself.
Robert Saleh hasn’t forgotten his NY Jets days
Saleh was hired by the Jets ahead of the 2021 season and was widely viewed as a much-needed breath of fresh air following the disastrous Adam Gase era. The Michigan native brought a renewed sense of optimism and energy to the organization and was seen as a home-run hire around the league.
Unfortunately, Saleh’s tenure in New York will ultimately go down as another disappointing chapter in franchise history. Lackluster offensive coaching and abysmal quarterback play derailed Saleh’s Jets career, and his departure — while premature and shocking at the time — wasn’t undeserved.
Following a brief stint as a consultant alongside best friend Matt LaFleur in Green Bay last season, Saleh reunited with Shanahan and the 49ers as the team’s defensive coordinator, a role he previously held before he was hired by the Jets.
Saleh will have an opportunity to revitalize his career in San Francisco and potentially put himself in consideration for future head coach opportunities. There are many around the league who believe Saleh can still be a quality NFL head coach one day.
Saleh’s time with the Jets didn’t go the way anyone hoped, but clearly, some things stick. Maybe it was just a comfy sweatshirt, or maybe he’s not quite ready to let go. Either way, the Jets have turned the page. Saleh? He might still be holding onto a line or two from the last chapter.