Robert Saleh is the upbeat first-year head coach for the New York Jets. He's brought excitement and hope to a drunken fan base.His "All the gas, no brakes!" mantra was quickly embraced by believers who packed public practice sessions at the Jets' recently concluded training camp in Florham Park, New Jersey.
While GreenSportsBlog admires Saleh's enthusiasm, given his contribution to global climate change, we believe his use of "GAS" as the fuel that will propel the team to success is a mistake.
We were therefore pleased that Coach Saleh took valuable time to talk to GSB* about the motto - and how it can be improved—The regular season opener in Carolina is only two weeks away.
* OK, Coach Saleh didn't actually speak to us. This is a MOCK INTERVIEW. But we're pretty sure he would have said what we said.
GreenSportsBlog: Coach Saleh (SAHL-uh), thanks for your time today. I'll be brief knowing youJ-E-T-S-Jets! Jets! JETS!host the Philadelphia Eagles in the last game of the preseason tonight. As a longtime Jets fan, I can't wait to see you put your stamp on the team beginning with the start of the regular season in Carolina on September 12th.
As a GreenSports blogger, there is one thing that worries me as I head into your first season as head of the team known as the GREEN Gang.
Coach Robert Saleh: I know... They're worried about the defense because of the injuries we've suffered this summer, particularly our newly signed pass-rushing beast Carl Lawson, who is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. Hey, that was undoubtedly a brutal injury to Carl. But he's already in rehab and will be back for 2022, ready to go and better than ever.
We'll be fine for us. We live our motto "Next Man Up".
GSB: I understand that, Coach, but it's one of your other lines that worries me, and that's "All the gas, no brakes!"...
Coach Saleh: Really? What don't you like about it? It outlines how every Jets player should behave in the classroom, in the practice room, and on the field. Go full throttle all the time, stop for no one! And when you face a challenge, an obstacle you KEEP. GO. All THROTTLE, no BRAKE!
And I'm telling you, the fans get it and they love it! I remember at one of our first public practice sessions in July I grabbed the mic in front of the stands and told them 'All GAS' and the fans were AMAZING and in response they yelled back 'No BRAKE!' It was awesome!
Freshman NY Jets head coach Robert Saleh brings Jets fans on board with his "All Gas, No Brake" chant at July training camp (starts at 0:36 seconds).
GSB: I see. And I LOVE the feeling. It's the "GAS" that matters...
Coach Saleh: Why? You have to floor the accelerator to win in this league all the time!!!
GSB: Here's why: Because GAS, when burned — whether you're talking about GASoline, which is refined from oil to fuel your car, or natural GAS that powers, heats, and cools buildings — makes a massive contribution to the Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of global climate change, which now threatens millions of people, including Americans.
Coach Saleh: Ahhh, I see. OK, I don't know much about climate change, don't think about it much. But my wife, Sanaa, and I have six children, and our two oldest, Adam and Zane, have been talking about it at home more and more often.
You learned it at school.
GSB: What did you say?
Coach Saleh: Adam told me that in Lebanon, where our ancestors come from, it was really a big problem. He said there have been more droughts. And when it rains, there are more floods. Both harm the economy.
I thought climate change was primarily a problem for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, not something we needed to deal with now. But Zane said his teacher told him it's happening all over the world now. Sanaa said the worst thing about climate change now is that poor people who don't have the ability to audibly change their lives are the ones who suffer the most.
GSB: And it's affecting the sport! Including football as the extreme heat makes the training camp much more challenging health wise...
Coach Saleh: ...Oh, I've noticed that the last few years that I was with the San Francisco 49ers, the Heat was BRUTAL. And then we had to deal with forest fires. But do we know that the heat and fires are really due to climate change? And that it's man-made?
GSB: Yes. And yes. Science has shown that climate change is exacerbating extreme weather, including heat waves and wildfires.Have you watched the Tokyo Olympics?
Coach Saleh: Very little, just a few highlights. I've been very busy changing the culture here. We have some incredible young men - did you know we're the youngest team in the league? — who work hard to improve every day!
GSB: The reason I'm asking is that Tokyo had such a sweltering heat during the Games that many athletes had a lot of trouble dealing with it. Daniil Medvedev, the second tallest tennis player in the world, told the chair umpire during a game, "I can quit the game, but I can die." The marathons have been moved 300 miles north to Sapporo. And so forth.
Coach Saleh: I see. Climate change is happening now, it's man-made and it's affecting sport. So what does that have to do with “All GAS! No BRAKE!
GSB: Well, if humanity is to have any chance of keeping global temperatures within a range that avoids the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and do it faster than Jets rookie receiver Elijah Moore. To do that, we need to move away from GAS and towards clean energy. In traffic, we need to speed up the transition to ELECTRIC mobility from yesterday.
Since the jets have a huge platform, how cool would it be if you changed your mantra from All GAS, No Brake to All Electric, No Brake? As with electric vehicles or electric vehicles?
Coach Saleh: A few of our guys have Teslas. But, all ELECTRIC, no BRAKE... It just doesn't sound the same!
GSB: I understand you, coach. But right now we are in a global climate crisis. So we have to sacrifice "Ring" for "Messaging". And it would make you and the Jets look and sound cool! What do you say?
Coach Saleh: We'll be cool once we start winning games! But “everything ELECTRICAL! No BRAKE!'? I'll work on it. Maybe it will sound better with time.
GSB: And maybe the switch could see the team gain a new EV sponsor?
Coach Saleh: [Team Owner] Woody and Chris Johnson are going to like this...
GSB: So type 'All ELECTRIC! No BRAKE'a go?
Coach Saleh: YES! But do we have to use the “J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS!” sing because jets are gas-powered?
GSB: Well, let me tell you about sustainable aviation fuel... That'll be a conversation for another day. For now, good luck this season, Coach! And of course make sure the boys stay hydrated by using reusable water bottles!
A 3 minute video about the history of the J-E-T-S JETS! JETS! JETS! singing
Top photo: Robert Saleh, freshman-year head coach of the NY Jets (Photo: New York Post)
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FAQs
What happened to the Jets head coach? ›
The Jets had a head coach who was fired after his team lost its final six games, taking a team that was in Playoff position to ten losses. You could probably guess that the first coach was Adam Gase in 2019.
Did the NY Jets hire a new coach? ›The New York Jets hired Hackett as their offensive coordinator on Thursday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported. The Jets also hired Keith Carter as offensive line coach and run game coordinator, the team announced.
Who is the Jets coach this year? ›In this story:
Mike LaFleur isn't the only Jets coach that won't be back in 2023. Head coach Robert Saleh revealed to reporters on Thursday that New York will also replace offensive line coach and run-game coordinator John Benton as well as wide receiver coach Miles Austin this offseason.
Bill Parcells
Parcells was the head coach for the New York Jets in the 1997-1999 seasons, a total of three years. Parcells' record as the team's head coach was 29-19-0, making him the most successful head coach in New York Jets history.
On average, NFL offensive and defensive coordinators have an annual salary of $1 million, but concrete numbers for these positions are usually not disclosed compared to more prominent positions, such as head coaches.
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How much does the Jets head coach make? ›He became the youngest NFL head coach in the modern era when he was hired by the Rams in 2017 at the age of 30. McVay is also the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl, make multiple Super Bowl appearances, and be named the AP NFL Coach of the Year. Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
How many black coaches are in the NFL? ›More than three decades later, in 2023, there are just three Black coaches in the 32-team league: Tomlin, Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans.
Who is the new Black Stars coach? ›
The Ghana Football Association has named Milovan Rajevach as the new Coach of the Senior National team, the Black Stars.
Who will Jets play in 2023 season? ›- 1 / 17. Buffalo Bills - Home.
- 2 / 17. Miami Dolphins - Home.
- 3 / 17. New England Patriots - Home.
- 4 / 17. Kansas City Chiefs - Home. ...
- 5 / 17. Los Angeles Chargers - Home. ...
- 6 / 17. Philadelphia Eagles - Home.
- 7 / 17. Washington Commanders - Home. ...
- 8 / 17.
| 2023 New York Jets Schedule | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time/TV |
| Date TBA | Washington CommandersMetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | Time TBA ET TV TBA |
| Date TBA | at Dallas CowboysAT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | Time TBA TV TBA |
| Date TBA | at Denver BroncosEmpower Field at Mile High, Denver, CO | Time TBA TV TBA |
Jets 2023 mock draft: Offensive tackle help early, then a QB in Round 3 : The Jets have six draft picks, and based on one simulation, they could go offense with four of those selections come April.
Who is the greatest sports coach of all time? ›- John Wooden.
- Vince Lombardi.
- Red Auerbach.
- Paul Brown.
- Bear Bryant.
- Bill Walsh.
- Pat Summitt.
- Joe Torre.
Former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson has won eleven NBA championships, the most in NBA history.
Who is the best Jets player of all time? ›Don Maynard
Maynard is arguably the best Jet player of all time. He is a Hall of Famer for a franchise that has very few , and he was part of the Jets Super Bowl team in 1969. Maynard remains among the all-time leaders in yards per catch with an 18.7 mark.
Thieneman's latest clip, which drew nearly 300,000 viewers in one day, claims that the average NFL water boy salary is actually around $53,000. That figure is also reported elsewhere, such as the sports website Stack, although data from the league itself isn't readily available.
Do the Waterboys get a Super Bowl ring? ›The Average NFL Waterboy Gets Paid More Than You, And If Their Team Wins The Super Bowl – They Get A Ring.
How much does a NFL Waterboy make a game? ›Former NFL player Jake Thieneman claimed in a TikTok clip that an average NFL water boy makes around $53.000, noting that the actual figure depends on the team's status and the applicant's experience.
Why are they the New York Jets if they play in New Jersey? ›
Werblin renamed the team the New York Jets since the team would play near LaGuardia Airport and because it rhymed with the New York Mets as they would be playing in Shea Stadium. The new name was intended to reflect the modern approach of his team.
Why did Jets coaches not shake hands? ›While speaking with the media to officially close out the Jets' season, the veteran head coach shared his opinion that the handshake line should be between players, hence his absence.
What does interim assistant coach mean? ›And sometimes, a coach may be fired during the season, after a couple bad games. That's where the interim coach comes in. The interim coach is a top assistant, a front office person, or even an unemployed head coach who has the unenviable task of taking over a team in mid-season.
Who is the richest coach in the NFL? ›- Bill Belichick, $20 million. ...
- Sean Payton, $18 million. ...
- Pete Carroll, $15 million. ...
- Sean McVay, $14 million. ...
- Mike Tomlin, $12.5 million. ...
- Mike Vrabel, $9.5 million. ...
- Doug Pederson, $8.5 million.
While coaching salaries have not been made public, a USFL player makes an average salary of $45,000 each season and $600 per week during the pre-season. These figures indicate that a USFL coach is most likely paid in the $50,000 to $100,000 range per season.
Who is the youngest d1 coach? ›How young is Kenny Dillingham? He was less than five months old when Nick Saban made his head coaching debut at Toledo in September 1990. In taking over at Arizona State, the 32-year-old Dillingham became the youngest head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Who is the oldest living coach in the NFL? ›...
Oldest active NFL coaches.
Marvin Daniel Levy (/ˈliːviː/; born August 3, 1925) is an American former football coach and executive who was a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for seventeen seasons. He spent most of his head coaching career with the Buffalo Bills, leading them from 1986 to 1997.
Who is the longest tenured black NFL coach? ›Marvin Lewis is the longest-tenured African-American head coach in the big four North American pro sports.
What is the Rooney rule in the NFL? ›What is the Rooney Rule? The original Rooney Rule, coming up on its 20th year in the league, dictates that all NFL teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions. It has since been expanded to include other positions and more provisions.
Who was the 1st black NFL head coach? ›
...
Fritz Pollard.
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| Position: | Back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 27, 1894 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died: | May 11, 1986 (aged 92) Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. |
The Ghana Football Association has the pleasure to appoint Chris Hughton as Head Coach of the Black Stars following extensive deliberations between the two parties.
Are any of the new NFL coaches black? ›That leaves just two confirmed Black head coaches for next season, Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Tomlin and Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Who is the coach of Black Star 2023? ›The Ghana Football Association has appointed Chris Hughton as the new head coach of the Black Stars following extensive deliberations between the two parties.
Why did Jets coach leave? ›Paul Maurice has resigned as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets after nine seasons, saying he was no longer the person to lead the team to success through "the law of diminishing returns."
Why did Jets coach resign? ›Winnipeg Jets coach Paul Maurice has resigned from his position effective immediately, saying Friday during a news conference that it was "100 percent my decision," and that he felt the team needed "a new voice" after coaching them for parts of nine seasons.
Why did Belichick resigns as Jets coach? ›In his press conference following his January 2000 resignation, Belichick cited "various uncertainties" related to the Jets' new ownership as the cause for his decision to step down.
Why did Belichick leave the Jets? ›“I just don't feel at this time that I can lead the Jets with the 100 percent conviction that I need.” Jarring for a man who subsequently built a reputation centered on being in control. Belichick was not especially calm, cool and collected.
How much does the head coach of the Jets make? ›Jets fire DC Gregg Williams in aftermath of last-second loss to Raiders. Gregg Williams' roll of the dice in the final seconds of Sunday's loss to the Raiders has cost him his job. The Jets (0-12) have fired the veteran defensive coordinator, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
Why was coach suspended? ›
Payton, along with assistant head coach Joe Vitt, general manager Mickey Loomis, and four players including Jonathan Vilma, was suspended after an investigation found the club had a performance pool offering cash rewards for key plays, including big hits.
What happened to the Jets kicker? ›He was released on May 16, 2021.
What is Bill Belichick apologizing for? ›Belichick apologized for being so short with reporters, blaming it on the fact he just lost a very frustrating game. He claimed both the players and coaches failed to execute, and that lack of sharpness is what ultimately forced him to be so combative in the immediate aftermath.
What is Bill Belichick salary? ›The New England Patriots head coach reportedly makes a whopping $20 million per year.
Did Belichick apologize? ›Was this surprising Belichick apology a first for Patriots coach? Before taking questions from reporters, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick began his video press conference with an apology to the media for being terse after Saturday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Did Bill Belichick want Tom Brady? ›“Of course not,” Belichick said via CBS Boston. “We talked about that for two decades. I think I have been on the record dozens of times saying there is no quarterback I'd rather have than Tom Brady. I still feel that way.
Why does Bill Belichick always wear a hoodie? ›And the reason behind it all is peak-Belichick. According to Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel, the tradition started back in 2003, when the NFL entered into an apparel deal with Reebok. That agreement stated that the league's coaches would be required to wear the company's gear.
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