New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and his wife Sanaa Saleh have seven children together Rebecca Aizin is an Editorial Assistant at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2023. Her work has previously appeared on Elle, HGTV and Backstage.
Robert Saleh may have his hands full as the head coach of the New York Jets, but at home, he and his wife Sanaa Saleh have quite the team of their own.
The NFL coach and Sanaa got married in 2007 and went on to welcome seven children together.
While Sanaa prefers to keep her life private and doesn’t have any public social media presence, her husband has been vocal about how much her support means to him.
In an interview with the New York Post in 2021, Robert credited his family with giving him motivation for his high-pressure career.
“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 about what drives him. “They’re the reason why I wake up in the morning to do my absolute best.”
So who is Robert Saleh’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Sanaa Saleh and her relationship with the NFL coach.
Sanaa founded her charity organization, Sanaa’s Stars, in 2019. According to the nonprofit’s website, its mission is to “combat child sexual abuse » while also supporting survivors and their families.
“Our team is committed to delivering hope and love to children who have been affected by this devastating experience,” the website reads. “We work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the lives of these vulnerable children, partnering with individuals and organizations who share the same passion.”
Robert has championed his wife’s efforts, often speaking about the work she does and his admiration for her philanthropy.
« She just wants to bring light to people who are in a dark place in their life, » Robert told a Jets senior reporter in an interview. « And the things that they do are pretty cool. And the amount of work that she’s put into this is pretty cool. »
In December 2022, the Jets participated in the NFL’s « My Cause, My Cleats » campaign, where the athletes wore custom shoes that showcased causes close to their hearts. Robert donned sneakers dedicated to his wife’s charity for the occasion, wearing white Nike Air Force 1’s that read “Sanaa’s Stars” in blue.
« We have seven kids at home, » Saleh told a Jets reporter. « And the fact that she still finds time to put in the amount of work that she’s been put in to get this thing she started and how much passion she has for this, it’s just awesome. So, her cause, is always my cause and we are supporting Sanaa’s Stars with these shoes. »
Sanaa and Robert tied the knot long before he started his career in the NFL — and another NFL coach even had an important role at their wedding.
Matt LaFleur — who now serves as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers — developed a close friendship with Robert when they were both graduate assistants at Central Michigan University and shared an apartment, per ESPN.
When it came time to pick a best man, Robert tapped his former roommate for the job, a gesture he repeated a few years later when he brought LaFleur to the Houston Texans for his first NFL coaching job.
The couple have quite a large family. They’re parents to seven children: sons Adam, Zane, Michael, Sam and Jacob, and daughters Mila and Ella.
One of their children even appeared in HBO’s Hard Knocks, which documented the 2023 preseason for the Jets. Robert and Sanaa’s son was seen on the sidelines, cheering the players on at their practice.
Just as Robert is supportive of her, Sanaa also shows up to cheer for her husband when the Jets play. During a September 2023 game, Sanaa posed with the cast of the Jersey Shore — including Mike Sorrentino, Sammi Giancola, Nicole Polizzi and Jenni Farley — as they watched the Jets take on the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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