Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh took a moment to remember those impacted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, recalling his and his family experience on that fateful day
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh spoke on how 9/11 was one of the scariest days of his life
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh spoke on how 9/11 was one of the scariest days of his life(Image: YouTube: @Titans Press Conferences)
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Robert Saleh took a moment to reflect on how the 9/11 attacks affected him and his family 25 years later.
The United States was attacked by 19 terrorists on that day in 2001, with two planes hitting the World Trade Center. The North and South Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed more than an hour after impact, with David Saleh, older brother of the Tennessee Titans, among those in the South Tower.
Though David Saleh survived, Robert Saleh recalled the harrowing experience and how the hours after the attacks are seared into his mind, which helped him pivot to a career he pined after.
"My brother was in the second tower, he was on the 64th floor, somewhere in there anyway," he recalled to reporters Friday as the United States remembered the almost 3,000 people who died 25 years ago. "When the first building got hit, he looked to the stairs and started running. I think he was on floor 20 when his building got hit.
"And I think he was about a half mile to a mile away when the buildings collapsed." He added that his family was left awestruck by the events and after they were alerted that the South Tower had collapsed, he painted an image of how the family reacted to the news.
"So his experience was obviously extremely traumatic," the head coach continued. "And I always tell people, if I ever wanted to see what my mom looked like if she lost one of us, that was the day. We didn't hear from him for a while, we were convinced that he was gone.
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh during a preseason game between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears, August 29, 2026 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh makes it a point to commemorate those lost on 9/11 by recalling his own experience(Image: Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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"And I've always told people that we're the lucky ones. We're very fortunate. My brother got out safe, we had the opportunity to reflect." In an interview with ESPN, David Saleh recalled his experience on that fateful day, noting that he had arrived in Manhattan on Sept. 6.
He was set to begin a one-month training program as a financial adviser for Morgan Stanley, with his first day being on Sept. 10. The next day, David Saleh made his way to the 61st floor and took in the view before he was jolted by a fireball - the first plane had hit the North Tower.
Upon seeing the crash, he immediately made his way to the stairwell, determined to exit the building. "It was all slow motion to me," he recalled to the outlet in 2021. "I couldn't even register what was happening."
When he reached ground level, he kept running for seven blocks as the two towers collapsed.
With his brother experiencing a near-death experience and his family almost having to live through the unthinkable, Saleh admitted that it was that moment that allowed him to switch paths in life and focus on what he wanted to do.
"And through tragedy, through this country's tragedy, we were able to, speaking for me, find an avenue where, I don't know the word to explain it, but I found my path through tragedy," he reflected.
"And I was working at the bank, and through self-reflection, it just, it allowed me the opportunity to change my path and pursue something that I love.
"And I've been very fortunate along the way."