New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh cherishes ties to the state of Michigan. The 43-year-old coach graduated from Fordson High School in Dearborn before playing tight end for Northern Michigan University. Saleh spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University from 2002-03.

Saleh’s journey to the NFL head coaching ranks was a long one. His tenure as the San Fransisco 49ers defensive coordinator springboarded him into the Jets job. In his second year in New York, Saleh and the Jets sit at 7-6 with a run for the playoffs in their sights.

In Week 15, Robert Saleh’s Jets take on the 6-7 Detroit Lions and their head coach Dan Campbell.

Saleh said the Lions remind him a lot of his own Jets team.

“I feel like we’re looking in the mirror. You’ve got two teams that are playing their absolute tails off,” Saleh said in an interview with the SD4L show. “They fight. It’s going to be a cool game to watch. Two teams that play balls-to-the-wall. Guys who have great character. Guys who strap up and lay it all out on the football field.”

In his interview with SD4L, Saleh talked about his time at MSU, what it was like in his first few days as an NFL head coach, his love for the Fordson High School community and building the Jets into a winning team.

On building a winning culture, Saleh said it always starts with the people you bring in.

“Identifying people who represent the style of football that you want,” Saleh said. “Not just playing style, but the characteristics of what type of a human you’re bringing into your building.”

The Jets take on the Lions on Sunday with a 1 p.m. kickoff. Detroit has won five out of its last six games, while New York has lost four out of its last six. Saleh said he believes the Lions’ rebuild is going in the right direction.

“What they’re putting together is not fake. They’re going to be good for a long time,” Saleh said.

(Featured Image Credit: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK)