Tempers Flare After the Game: 49ers and Jaguars Coaches Must Be Physically Separated.tl

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, greets Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, greets Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.

Kelley L. Cox/AP

LATEST Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. According to video published from a Jacksonville television station, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen apparently approached 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to kick off a fiery exchange after Jacksonville beat San Francisco on Sunday.

Action News Jacksonville, which operates WFOX-TV and WJAX-TV, posted a video of Sunday’s incident. In the 32-second video, Saleh is seen greeting Jaguars players when the camera finds Coen. Jacksonville’s head coach was walking toward the team’s locker room in the northwest corner, but turned back at Saleh and delivered a message to the 49ers assistant.

Article continues below this ad

“Keep my name out of your mouth,”

Liam Coen and Robert Saleh exchange after Jaguars win. Saleh used the phrase “legal sign stealing” in news conference last week in reference to Coen. pic.twitter.com/yYcjm1oHIP

— BrentDanStuartMarcelAlivia (@ActionSportsJax) September 29, 2025

“Keep my name out of your mouth,” Coen is heard saying. He then repeats that message a second time as several players and coaches step in.

Saleh then points back at Coen and says something to him, though the audio isn’t picked up on the video from Action News Jacksonville. Coen proceeds to turn back to the locker room and walk away, while Saleh eventually stops.

In postgame press conferences, Coen elected not to elaborate on what was said between him and Saleh, saying he was going to “keep that between us.” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the incident and tried to downplay the issue, but had a quick message to send to his fellow head coach.

Article continues below this ad

Kyle Shanahan on Robert Saleh and Liam Coen having words after the game:

“I didn’t see what happened so I’m not sure, but he [Liam] shouldn’t be so sensitive.” pic.twitter.com/fbrgICdAyX

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) September 28, 2025

“I didn’t see what happened so I’m not sure,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think he [Coen] should be that sensitive about it, but that’s the way it is.”

Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Jaguars head coach Liam Coen had to be physically separated after the Jaguars beat the Niners at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday.

Shortly after Jacksonville’s 26-21 win, Fox cameras followed Coen as he did postgame handshakes, starting with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. The cameras then cut away from Coen briefly, but returned to show both coaches being restrained from the other as the broadcast was about to go to commercial.

Article continues below this ad

In the brief clip, Saleh is walking towards the Jacksonville locker room entrance and has a 49ers staffer holding onto the back of his shirt, while Coen has a Jaguars offensive lineman and staffer holding onto him. There were several other Jaguars players and staffers around the exchange, and 49ers defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos was also present.

There were scarce details from the exchange immediately available, but San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami said on social media that Coen and Saleh did not have a postgame handshake.

Some words exchanged between 49ers and Jaguars players and then Saleh and Liam Cohen were barking, maybe to each other.

Right before that Saleh and Cohen walked right past each other. No greeting.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) September 28, 2025

It isn’t hard to decipher what might have been a discussion point, though. Saleh brought Coen and the Jaguars into the national spotlight this week when he discussed Jacksonville’s sign-stealing operation. While noting that everything they are doing is legal, Saleh praised the group for their ability to steal defensive signals and help their offense in the process.

Article continues below this ad

Still, Saleh’s comments raised eyebrows around the NFL and had anonymous sources telling CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones they were questioning if this was Saleh trying to get into the Jags’ heads or a sign of the Jags being in Saleh’s head. Coen had to address the comments in his press conference on Friday and looked quite annoyed by the inquiries.

Liam Coen seemingly shuts down all questions about Robert Saleh’s “sign stealing” comments.

Talking about it now on the Brent & Austen show. Hop in the chat w us‼️ pic.twitter.com/gVsdINIWOk

— Jason Hamby (@Jason_Hamby14) September 26, 2025

The Jaguars certainly earned the last laugh on Sunday, handing the 49ers their first loss of the 2025 season. San Francisco will now have to turn around and prepare to face the Rams on a short week, with kickoff set for Thursday night.

Article continues below this ad

This developing story will be updated.

|Updated 

Photo of Alex Simon

Sports Editor

Alex Simon is the sports editor for SFGATE. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alex has been in journalism for years as an editor, reporter and adjunct professor, most recently working at Bay Area News Group. He has degrees from Elon University and Arizona State University. When not at a sporting event, Alex enjoys playing sports and finding a good dive bar, and he loves In-N-Out Burger a bit too much for his own good.

Related Posts

YOU DEFAMED ME ON LIVE TV — NOW PAY THE PRICE – Whoopi’s Cryptic Take on Colbert’s Cancellation: A Hidden Message of Support on The View Leaves Fans Guessing.th

The hosts of “The View” are among the many upset over CBS canceling “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” but on Tuesday morning, moderator Whoopi Goldberg was reticent about her…

Read more

Fred Warner Receives NFL Punishment: Impact on 49ers and Upcoming Games.tl

Getty (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) San Francisco 49ers star Fred Warner will be a little lighter in his wallet after being fined by the NFL for a play in the…

Read more

50 minutes ago — Beverly Hills mansion fire: Neighbors shocked by smoke and fire, firefighters said Elton John was trapped in the room and died of smoke inhalation.jj

Beverly Hills, accustomed to the halo of glitter and lavish parties, has now become the center of mourning for the whole world. 50 minutes ago, a column of thick black…

Read more

What DK Metcalf Really Thinks About the Steelers’ Breakout Win Over Minnesota.MH

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf shared how he feels after his best performance of the 2025 NFL season in Week 4. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a second-round pick for DK Metcalf and signed…

Read more

49ers vs. Jaguars: Grading the Game After Jacksonville’s 26-21 Victory.tl

  San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13). / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images  To be fair, Brock Purdy seemed injured. He had no agility and he floated his passes worse than…

Read more

YOU DEFAMED ME ON LIVE TV — NOW PAY THE PRICE – Whoopi Goldberg Keeps Quiet on Colbert’s Cancellation, But Sends a Powerful ‘We Got Your Back’ Message on The View.th

The hosts of “The View” are among the many upset over CBS canceling “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” but on Tuesday morning, moderator Whoopi Goldberg was reticent about her…

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *