Robert Saleh Biography, Age, Family, Siblings, Wife, Kids and Net Worth

 Who is Robert Saleh?

Robert Saleh is an American professional football coach, currently the head coach of the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He has been a defensive coach for much of his 19-year coaching career. Saleh previously served as an assistant coach from 2005 to 2020 for the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers. He was holding his first defensive coordinator position with the Niners from 2017 to 2020.

Robert has appeared in two Super Bowls, one with the Seahawks and the other with 49ers, winning in 2014 with the Seahawks. After the 2020 season, he departed the 49ers to join the Jets as their new head coach.

Robert started his coaching career at the collegiate level in 2002. He served four years as a defensive assistant with Michigan State University from 2002-03, Central Michigan University in 2004, and the University of Georgia in 2005.

Saleh was hired by the Houston Texans as an intern serving with the defensive unit in 2005. He was kept in Gary Kubiak’s staff as a defensive quality control coach under defensive coordinator Richard Smith in February 2006. Saleh was then promoted to assistant linebackers coach in January 2009.

How old is Robert Saleh?

Robert Saleh is aged 44 as of 2023, having been born on January 31, 1979, in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. He shares his birthday with celebrities including Josh Richards, Nikita Dragun, Brooke Monk, Justin Timberlake, Henri Desgrange, Don Hutson, Jersey Joe, Thomas Merton, Jackie Robinson, among others.

Robert Saleh Photo
Robert Saleh Photo

Robert Saleh Family

Who are Robert Saleh’s parents?

Robert Saleh was born in Dearborn, Michigan, to his parents Sam Saleh and his wife Fatin Saleh. His father was a star middle linebacker at Fordson High School but was halted by a serious knee injury. He is of Lebanese descent as his paternal grandfather, Albert was born in Lebanon. Saleh was born and brought up in Dearborn together with his siblings.

Does Robert Saleh have siblings?

Robert was born to his parents to a family of two sons and two daughters. He has three siblings, older brother David Saleh, and two younger sisters.

David was in the South Tower during the September 11 attacks in 2001 and saw the fireball from the first plane’s impact on North Tower from the 61st floor. He ignored calls by the public intercom within the Tower 2 to go back into their offices, he made it down to the 24th floor. He made it before the second plane hit around 50 floors above in his tower. David was able to make it safely to the lobby and escape to safety. This inspired Saleh and encouraged him to pursue his dreams of coaching football.

Robert Saleh Education

Saleh joined and studied at Fordson High School in Dearborn, Michigan. He then went to Northern Michigan University in 1997 and graduated with a degree in finance in 2001. Saleh was a four-year starter for the Northern Michigan Wildcats football team and earned all-conference honors as a tight end.

Robert Saleh Interest

Saleh played football from high school to college. After college he worked at a bank, Comerica Bank, and earned $800 per week, to evaluate loan applications in an antiseptic office space. Growing up in a football family made him quit the bank job and look for a coaching job, which he found at his old high school.

Robert Saleh Wife

Saleh is married to his sweetheart Sanaa, who was his longtime girlfriend before marrying in the early 2000s. The couple is happily married with six children together.

Robert Saleh Kids

Saleh and his wife, have six children together, four sons and two daughters. His four sons are Adam Saleh, Zane Saleh, Michael Saleh, and Sam Saleh, and his two daughters are Mila Saleh and Ella Saleh.

Robert Saleh Height

Saleh has an athletic, well-built, and muscular body adding up to a medium impressive height of 6 ft 2 in ( m) and an undisclosed moderate weight.

Robert Saleh Net Worth

American professional football coach and current head coach for the New York Jets, Saleh has been coaching since 2002 to date. He is among the top coaches and has a big reputation as a defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach. He earns a salary of approximately $5 million as a head coach and has garnered up an estimated net worth of $5 million as of 2021.

Robert Saleh Seattle Seahawks

Robert was hired by the Seattle Seahawks under Pete Caroll in 2011 as the defensive quality control coach. He served with the Seahawks for three seasons, consisting of their 2013 championship season when they beat the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. Within this duration, the defense was referred to as the Legion of Boom.

Jacksonville Jaguars

After the Seahawks’ 2013 championship, Saleh was named linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars under head coach Gus Bradley.

Robert Saleh San Francisco 49ers

Robert was named by the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator under new head coach Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan and Saleh previously worked together from 2006-2009 for the Houston Texans as assistant coaches.

The 49ers’ defense was the sixth in the league in forced turnovers (27), second in total defense (281.8 yards per game). As well as first in passing defense (169.2 yards per game), and fourth in sacks (48) in the 2019 season. Since 2003, this was the first time they finished in the top 10 in both scoring and yards per game. Saleh assisted guide the team to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl LIV berth, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

New York Jets

Robert signed a five-year deal to become the head coach of the New York Jets on January 14, 2021. However, he lost in his head coaching debut to the Carolina Panthers by a 14-19 score on September 12, 2021. He went on to win in his first game as a head coach in a victory against the Tennessee Titans in overtime by 27-24 on October 3.

Robert Saleh Achievements

Saleh is the first Muslim head coach in NFL history after his hiring by the Jets. Also, he is the fourth Arab-American head coach of the NFL, following Ed Khayat (Philadelphia Eagles 1971-71), Abe Gibron (Chicago Bears 1972-19740, and Rich Kotite (Philadelphia Eagles 1991-940, all of the Lebanese descent as well. He was the best man at Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur’s wedding as the two became close as they served as graduate assistants at Central Michigan.