Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Robert Saleh reveals Jaguars' sign-stealing strategy that will certainly anger 49ers fans if it helps Jacksonville win on Sunday

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Rob Gregson | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 2:09 PM ET

In a game built on margins and inches, everyone in the NFL is looking for a competitive advantage. You can only watch so much film, do so much self-scouting, and practice for so long. Everyone does that. So sometimes you push the envelope.

That can go too far in the case of Tom Brady and deflating footballs or Bill Belichick and spygate (common denominator being the New England Patriots), but if it's within the rules, it's fair game. And according to Robert Saleh, the Jacksonville Jaguars have devised a way to steal signs, but in a legal manner.

“Liam [Coen] (Jaguars head coach) and his staff, including a couple of guys coming from Minnesota. They’ve got a legally advanced signal-stealing type system, where they always find a way to put themselves in an advantageous situation. They do a great job with it,” said Saleh. “You try to find any nugget they can. So we’ve got to be great with our signals, and we got to be great with our communication, and to combat some of the tells that we might give on the field. So they’re, they’re almost elite in that regard."

Robert Saleh reveals Jaguars sign-stealing system

Robert Saleh says the Jaguars offense has a signal stealing system that’s legal:

“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
— Coach Yac (@Coach_Yac) September 25, 2025

"The revelation about the Minnesota Vikings being involved in sign stealing is a fascinating one on the surface, but it makes all the sense in the world. Head coach Kevin O'Connell is the ultimate competitor. Don't let the kind-hearted exterior fool you; he's cutthroat on the field. It makes sense that the allegations from Robert Saleh are out there, because the Vikings are very tactical in their approach."

"They preach intelligence across the board on both offense and defense, and that has been the biggest reason for the success of the team the last three years. Brian Flores' defense is predicated on it, and it makes sense that they can "allegedly" have a sign stealing system that is both legal and gives them an edge. What's fascinating here is why this never got talked about sooner?"

- Tyler Forness, A to Z Sports Minnesota

To answer Tyler's question, that's probably because it took a system of coaches who are just as competitive to watch Coen and the Jags in their weekly game prep and realize what exactly was going on.

Do I think this will start taking the league by storm and force the NFL to step in and make changes? I don't. But do I think this is significant and could give the Jaguars a big advantage? Certainly. We'll see how the 49ers combat it this weekend.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: