Jacksonville Jaguars coach Liam Coen and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh got into a shouting match after the Jaguars’ 26-21 Week 4 win over the 49ers.
Saleh concurred with the duo during a Tuesday media availability. The 46-year-old also acknowledged the tension between the two stemmed from comments the 49ers made praising the Jaguars for legally operating ‘a really advanced signal-stealing type system’
‘It is all good,’ Saleh said Tuesday. ‘Whatever happened on Sunday doesn’t change how I feel. In my heart, I genuinely was trying to give a compliment. I own the fact that I probably used the wrong choice of words, but however you want to word it. I mean, they’re really, really good at putting their players in position to be successful.’
‘As coaches, we’re always chasing leverage,’ he added. ‘They’re trying to have winning leverage. We’re trying to take leverage away and everyone in the league is trying to find every avenue they can. As a coach watching their tape, I recognize the amount of hours that must be spent to be able to build formations and to find every little indicator they can to give their players a chance to be in a successful position. That’s exhausting and every team does it. Some do it better than others and it was my way of acknowledging that these guys are really, really, really good at it.’
The 49ers defensive coordinator knows what it’s like being in Coen’s shoes as a first-time head coach. Saleh headed back to San Francisco, reclaiming his role as a coordinator after a stint as the New York Jets head coach.
Saleh continued to be complimentary, saying that already sees plenty of Coen’s personality in the Jaguars.
‘I think Liam’s doing a hell of a job,’ Saleh said. ‘I really do. You can tell that that team’s really taking on his personality and I hope they came out of the game healthy, and I wish him the best of luck throughout the rest of the season. You know, I wish I could have found a better choice of words, but my intent was always to compliment that football staff.’
While Coen secured a win on that day, barring a matchup in the Super Bowl, it’ll be some time before Saleh gets another crack at it.
It’s no secret that plenty of eyes will be focused on the sideline matchup the next time these two meet. Perhaps one sideline exchange created the unlikeliest of NFL rivalries.