Tennessee Titans Head Coach Robert Saleh is playing it cool before his Sept. 13 game against the New York Jets.
Saleh was the former HC of the NYJ and was fired in 2024 when the Jets were at 2-3. Overall, he went 20-36 for the team, but his dismissal felt abrupt and unnecessary. It sent the Jets into a tailspin, as they finished that season at 5-12.
While Saleh wasn’t Vince Lombardi during his tenure, many felt the team would have been far better under him. Thus, his return to the Big Chair with a new team for the upcoming match on NFL opening weekend with the Jets could take on a special meaning, right?
Wrong, says Saleh. He insists that his team’s desire to win on Week 1 is merely the fact that it’s Week 1. “I’m forever grateful for all the opportunity (the Jets) gave me. I don’t hold grudges.”
But let’s face it – human nature being what it is, Saleh wouldn’t turn down an opportunity to thump his former team. In fact, the NFL is riddled with revenge games by coaches and players.
Here’s a few of the most memorable.
Jon Gruden vs. Oakland Raiders (2003 Super Bowl): Traded by the Raiders to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gruden took revenge in Super Bowl XXXVII. He beat his former team 48-21 and used much of his old playbook to do so.
Tom Brady vs. New England Patriots (2021): Patriots Super Bowl legend Brady left as a free agent, but returned to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a narrow 19-17 victory over his old team.
Terrell Owens vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2006): After a bitter falling out and his release from Philadelphia, Terrell Owens returned to Lincoln Financial Field as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. The pregame hype was overwhelming, but the Eagles prevented Owens from running wild and beat the Cowboys.
Randy Moss vs. Dallas Cowboys (1998): Moss was chapped that the Cowboys didn’t take him in the 1998 draft. He responded to the snub by rolling up 163 yards in receptions during the Vikings Thanksgiving Day win.
Joe Montana vs. San Francisco 49ers (1994): Despite winning four Super Bowls with the 49ers, Montana signed with the Kansas City Chiefs late in his career. He let his former team know what they missed, leading his new team to 15 points in the third quarter to beat the Niners, 24-17.
