Jets' Energetic New Head Coach Robert Saleh: 'Get Used To The Mantra 'All Gas, No Break''
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The New York Jets now have a new leader.
Robert Saleh was introduced as the team's new head coach Thursday and he's already made an impression, CBS2's Steve Overmyer reported.
It's typical for teams to go to the opposite end of the spectrum when replacing their head coach and Saleh brings with him more authenticity, more leadership, and more fire.
"Get used to the mantra, 'All gas, no brake.' When we talk about all gas, no brake we're not talking about effort on the field. We're talking about the process at which we do things. We're talking about the way we prepare, the way we wake up every single morning," Saleh said.
MORE: Jets' Robert Saleh Makes History As NFL's First Muslim Head Coach
Jets fans have been looking for a shot of energy following the team's disastrous 2-14 season and it looks like they got it. The 41-year-old Saleh, the former successful defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, is energy personified. He'll need to be to turnaround a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in 10 years.
"To our fans, we embrace your passion. We embrace your expectations. We cannot wait to go on this journey with you. Please understand we understand that have a lot of work to do, but make no mistake, no mistake, our goal is to win championships," Saleh said.
It sounds like One Jets Drive will have a entirely different feel under Saleh's leadership. He will take on a CEO-type role, which is way different than predecessor Adam Gase, who many thought was too involved with the offense.
Saleh may be a defensive specialist, but he won't call the plays. He'll leave that to new coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who was hired Thursday.
And you can certainly expect Saleh to be a players' coach.
"Everyone says it a business. I get it. But it's not. This a personal investment to people. The most important people are the ones who strap up on game day and step between the lines," Saleh said, adding, "Can help them make plays on Sundays so they can get paid as much as possible."
Saleh said he is humbled to be the first Muslim head coach in the NFL. He also said he would't be coaching if it wasn't for his brother, David, who worked in the World Trade Center on 9/11. He escaped the south tower and that inspired Robert to leave his job as a credit analyst and pursue his dream of coaching.
"Knowing that our first game is a day after the 20th anniversary ... I'm supposed to be here and I believe that. God does things for a reason and I believe this is one of them and I'm really, really excited to be here and continue this journey with Jets Nation," Saleh said.
Coaches have a way of sidestepping questions, but Saleh answered each question to the best of his ability. He hit on all the hot topics that need to be resolved. That alone shows he's serious about changing this downtrodden franchise's culture.
CBS2's Steve Overmyer contributed to this report
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