The New York Jets hired Robert Saleh as their new head coach earlier this month. It didn't take long for the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator to take a subtle jab at the fans of their city rivals, the New York Giants.
While speaking on the Huddle and Flow Podcast, Saleh praised the Jets fans' passion for their squad. He likened the difference between the two New York fanbases to that of Michigan State, his alma mater, and their rivals Michigan.
Via Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com:
“The (Jets) fan base is so passionate,” Saleh said. “So I went to Michigan State. Got my master’s from there. Have a strong connection to Michigan State. Go Green, right? And when you look at Michigan State(’s) fan base versus Michigan(’s) fan base, it’s very similar to what you see in New York if you think about it.
“Michigan’s more … We always make fun of Michigan for kind of being more the uppity-ups, sit on your hands, where the Spartan fans are a little bit more rambunctious, a little bit more passionate, a little bit more — they’re louder,” Saleh added. “Like we always say a loaded stadium in East Lansing is a hell of a lot louder than the loaded stadium at the Big House” in Ann Arbor, where the Wolverines play.
Saleh went on and admitted how he always saw Jets fans as “more invested” compared to their city rivals.
Saleh kept going too.
This next quote is sure to get Giants fans going.
“But at the same time, so when you get here, you just feel that,” Saleh said. “When we’ve played the Jets in the past versus the Giants — no disrespect to them, they’re absolutely a phenomenal franchise. But the Jets’ fan base has … is a lot more … feels more invested, I should say. They feel more invested in the way they are just so passionate about their team.”
Of course, this isn't a surprising admission coming from the newly-hired Jets coach. He's certainly doing his part to butter up to Jets fans.
Saleh will have a lot on his plate this upcoming 2021 season as they look to bounce back from a dismal 2-14 campaign.
Follow Us
Subscribe