


The Jets got “The Sopranos” treatment on “Hard Knocks” this week.
During Tuesday’s episode of the HBO docuseries following Gang Green, there were clips of head coach Robert Saleh driving into MetLife Stadium before the Jets’ final preseason game against the Giants on Saturday.
But rather than interview Saleh or get any inspiring words from the third-year head coach, the show created a montage that paid homage to the iconic intro of “The Sopranos” that graced TV’s airwaves from 1999-2007.
The clip starts with a camera panning away from the Jets’ training camp and cutting to Saleh driving his car toward the stadium.
The footage, which appeared to be from a handheld camera, shows road signs for the New Jersey Turnpike and parts of New York’s skyline — like the Empire State Building, One World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty — as Alabama 3’s “Woke up This Morning” plays over the clip.
The scene even shows Saleh go through a toll, like “The Sopranos” intro did with James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, though the Jets’ coach doesn’t angrily take a ticket from a toll booth machine and just continues to drive on through.
Sans cigar, Saleh’s trip ends with him going home, at least sort of, as he exits his car to get ready for the final preseason game.
The reaction from Jets fans on X, formerly Twitter, was overly ecstatic.
“OMG THAT ROBERT SALEH AND JETS SOPRANOS SCENE! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!” one user wrote.
Another said the scene was getting him ready for Week 1.
“The Sopranos intro music hitting as Coach Saleh drives into the Jets/Giants preseason game on Hard Knocks has me so f–king ready for this season to start!! Well done @HBO,” the user posted.
Another said the moment was “top tier.”
Saleh and his Jets had a fine moment in the ensuing game, beating the Giants, 32-24, as Aaron Rodgers looked strong in the win.
As the season is set to get underway on Sept. 11, the Jets only can hope to match the success of the long-running HBO drama.