
The NFL is full of energy, frustration, excitement, and everything in between. At the conclusion of games, sometimes emotions can get the best of some people involved in the matchup. For the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers, tempers flared after the Jags defeated the 49ers in Week 4.
The "discussion" reached quite a level between jaguars head coach Liam Coen and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The two coaches had to be separated during the postgame.
The broadcast didn't catch the entire altercation, but Saleh and Coen were both sharing their displeasures with each other. Saleh made comments about a potential signal-stealing strategy that Coen's team uses earlier this week. That was certainly bulletin board material.
The game broadcast briefly caught #jaguars head coach Liam Coen and #49ers DC Robert Saleh being separated postgame on the field. Remember Saleh commented this week about the Jaguars legal sign stealing strategy. pic.twitter.com/XNhJgdJH61
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) September 28, 2025
Oh wow. #Jaguars HC Liam Coen and #49ers DC Robert Saleh had to be separated after the game today.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 28, 2025
Saleh made comments this week about Jacksonville having a legal sign-stealing system. https://t.co/gW1Fpqp1in pic.twitter.com/UQicrVBuYO
After the win, Coen said that the comments made between the coaches would stay between them. No more details outside of that, but he did relay that it was not a big deal. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his thoughts on the altercation following the game, too.
wow. Liam Coen starts his press conference shutting down all questions about Robert Saleh.
— Jason Hamby (@Jason_Hamby14) September 28, 2025
the two had words on the field postgame after Saleh said the Jaguars “legally steal signs”.@BrentASJax @ActionSportsJax pic.twitter.com/8GmrtOdF7F
Kyle Shanahan on Robert Saleh and Liam Coen having words after the game:
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) September 28, 2025
“I didn’t see what happened so I’m not sure, but he [Liam] shouldn’t be so sensitive.” pic.twitter.com/fbrgICdAyX
The 49ers defensive coordinator was brutally honest about what he thought of the signal-stealing that he believes Coen's team has been deploying. Clearly, he believes there's some sort of advantage to what they are doing in some capacity.
"They’ve got a really advanced signal-stealing system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation. They’re almost elite in that regard.” -- Robert Saleh
Robert Saleh says the Jaguars offense has a signal stealing system that’s legal:
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) September 25, 2025
“Liam Coen and his staff coming from Minnesota they got legally a really advanced signal stealing system where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation. They do a great… pic.twitter.com/XVJfPKhL2y
The entire league has a way of distributing signals to call plays, make adjustments, and nearly everything else during games. With crowds, other players, and staff members, there has to be ways to get information across without using a vocal route. For the 49ers coordinator, he thinks that the Jags are doing something legal with stealing said signals.
That being said, this altercation proves that he doesn't necessarily think the legal activities are supposed to age a part of the game, either. That's a tough grey space for anyone to have a strong opinion on, especially when you just suffered a frustrating loss to the team you accused earlier in the week.
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