Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is used to leading a large group of young people on and off the field. While his on-field team is not a secret to anybody, many fans will be surprised to know that he and his wife, Sanaa Zainab Kaid, are the parents of seven children.
If you thought navigating the New York media was difficult, just try doing the breakfast routine in the Saleh household! We take a peek at how Saleh stays grounded by his family amidst the high-stakes nature of his professional football career.
A Look at Robert Saleh’s Family
Saleh and his wife, Sanaa, are proud parents to five sons and two daughters. Their children are Adam, Zane, Michael, Sam, Jacob, Mila, and Ella.
Saleh’s family dislikes staying under the spotlight too much and doesn’t even have public social media accounts. However, that doesn’t stop them from being his biggest cheerleaders.
During an interview with the New York Post in 2021, the Jets head coach opened up about his family’s importance to him.
“My family. They’re my ‘Why.’ I wake up every morning, kiss my wife, kiss my kids, every single one of ’em goodbye,” he said when asked what drives him. “They’re why I wake up in the morning to do my absolute best.”
Even though the family stays away from the spotlight, one of their children appeared on HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” which covered the Jets’ 2023 preseason. The young Saleh was spotted on the sidelines, passionately cheering for the Jets, adding a personal touch to the show.
After the Jets’ thrilling win over the Eagles in 2023, safety Tony Adams shared an intriguing story of how Robert’s son Adam helped the team get fired up before the game.
“Coach Saleh said something really important, and it triggered something in me and all of us,’’ Adams told The New York Post. “He said, ‘You are who you think you are, and go out there and show the world who you think you are.’ He was talking about his son, Adam. Adam had a football game, and the team Adam played, I think it was Florham Park, they kicked Adam’s team’s butt last year.
“Coach Saleh said they were just more physical, and he said Adam was pissed about it. And they played that team again [recently], and he got a call from his wife [Sanaa], who said, ‘Adam balled down, he had two interceptions and two touchdowns.’ Coach Saleh then said his son inspired him to come up to us and say, ‘You are who you think you are.’”
Who Is Robert Saleh’s Wife Sanaa?
Robert married Sanaa in 2007, and they have been together ever since. While the Jets head coach is a force in the football world, his wife has been trying to make the world a better place through her non-profit organization.
The organization, called Sanaa’s Stars, was founded in 2019 and aims to combat child sexual abuse and extend support to the victims and their families. Sanaa’s charity is committed to “delivering hope and love to children affected by this devastating experience.”
The former Jets head coach also participated in the NFL’s campaign My Cause, My Cleats, where he highlighted his wife’s work while wearing white Nike Air Force 1s with “Sanaa’s Stars” written on them.