The Jets’ decision to fire Robert Saleh five games into his fourth season “blindsided” the well-liked but embattled HC, and the call did not involve Saleh’s football ops partner. 
Jets ownership went around GM Joe Douglas when making this call, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt report. The sixth-year New York GM was not involved in the decision to fire Saleh, and Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports Douglas was not in the meeting in which the coach was informed the team was ending his tenure. This certainly casts some doubt about Douglas’ long-term future with the Jets.
Woody Johnson is contradicting this part of the Saleh fallout, indicating Tuesday he did consult with Douglas on the firing. The owner, however, said (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) the decision to let Saleh go — the first in-season Jets HC firing since 1975 — was his alone. Johnson has now fired Saleh, Rex Ryan and Eric Mangini. Buying the Jets in 2000, Johnson saw Al Groh resign; he then traded Herm Edwards‘ rights to the Chiefs in 2006 and was serving as the United States’ ambassador to the United Kingdom when Todd Bowles was fired (under brother and acting owner Christopher Johnson). Christopher joined Woody in the firing meeting with Saleh on Tuesday.
Russisi and Rosenblatt add a lack of accountability on the offensive side of the ball did not sit well with the Jets’ defensive players. New York ranks second in total defense this season and fifth in points allowed per game; that contrasts greatly with the team’s offensive output (18.6 points per game, 25th in the NFL). Struggles of a similar nature were of course present throughout last season, and continued issues with offense led to questions regarding offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett‘s job security.
The former Packers OC (who spent time in Green Bay during part of Aaron Rodgers‘ tenure there) endured a disastrous stint as head coach of the Broncos in 2022, being fired before his debut Denver campaign had even ended. That was followed by Hackett’s Jets hire, a move which ultimately allowed him to reunite with Rodgers. Things have not gone according to plan in New York, however, with the 44-year-old play-caller taking repeated criticism.
Indeed, the Athletic report notes Hackett does not have much support amongst players or coaches at this point. SNY’s Connor Hughes adds Woody Johnson has been critical over the past few weeks in particular. During a rain-soaked home game against the Broncos, the Jets managed only nine points in a low-scoring loss. That was followed by Sunday’s London contest, during which New York trailed 17-0 at one point. As of now, Hackett’s job is safe, although interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich noted on Tuesday all elements of the offense will be under evaluation (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini).
Given the fact the Jets only trail the Bills by one game in the division, along with their continued success on defense, today’s firing was not expected by any party outside of ownership. Hughes reports members of management along with coaches and players were “stunned” by Saleh’s dismissal (video link). That sentiment will no doubt linger if the team continues to struggle on offense over the coming weeks. The unit’s recent struggles were not solely responsible for today’s move, though. 
When speaking to the media, Johnson noted (via Cimini’s colleague Kimberley A. Martin) the past two losses were not the only driving factor in his decision to move on from Saleh. He expressed confidence in Ulbrich’s ability to guide the team toward the postseason in 2024, something which would end the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought. Given the talent level on the roster, that remains the expectation.
Johnson said he views the 2024 Jets as the best of his ownership tenure, adding the current iteration is “one of the most talented teams ever assembled” in the organization’s history (h/t Brian Costello of the New York Post and Garafolo’s colleague Ian Rapoport). Slight improvement in terms of offensive efficiency would give New York at least a strong chance at a wild-card berth, particularly if the defense were to remain healthy. On that note, Rodgers’ status given his knee injury suffered in Week 5 and his low ankle sprain from Sunday will of course be worth monitoring closely.
The relationship between Rodgers and Saleh had remained a talking point throughout the 2024 campaign, although the four-time MVP recently offered public assurances things were not strained between the two. Veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports the partnership was indeed in a good place at the time of today’s decision. Given Rodgers’ major influence on organizational decisions, though, many have speculated he had a hand in Saleh (rather than Hackett) being the one dismissed. Johnson said (via Martin) he and Rodgers spoke last night, but not about any potential coaching changes. He repeated the move was his alone, stating Rodgers had no say in the matter (h/t Cimini).
As could be expected, Schultz adds that Ulbrich will have the opportunity to earn the head coaching gig on a full-time basis. How the next 12 games play out will determine his candidacy, but he takes on the current role with a strong reputation inside the organization. As players, staffers and management alike seek to move forward from the surprise of Saleh’s firing, Ulbrich will face high expectations over the remainder of the campaign.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
This cursed org had some good chances of getting better long term until, they traded for Rodgers. NYJ got the inverse of the discount double check.
It’s not cursed. It’s poorly ran. Big difference.
That’s a matter of perspective. I bet Jets fans feel cursed by the poor management of their beloved franchise.
Sucks for them! Bahahaha!!!
No, it’s not. The NFL screams ‘Parity,’ but the same teams always lose: the Cards, Jets, Jags, Browns, Bears, Chargers, Panthers, etc. That’s not a matter of perspective; it’s the truth. They are poorly run businesses that prosper from being in an exclusive league.
Shad Khan is the 2nd fastest owner to 100 losses. Do you see him losing money or needing to sell? He just had Duval approve paying 50% of the cost for stadium renovations.
Goodell would define “parity” as having several teams still in the running for a playoff berth entering the final week of the season and that is generally what we see.
poorly run*
Woody Johnson’s company knew full well that their BABY powder was filled with asbestos and sold it anyway.
The Jets deserve every single loss, every single setback, every single embarrassment and then some and then some more.
One of the few times Karma gets it right.
You left out “billionaire bagman for openly racist Presidential candidate”.
“Openly racist”? Gaslighting at its finest.
Johnson & Johnson should go into waste management cause they’re trash
The Jets are a circus. Just never-ending off-the-field entertainment.
Public executions with the guillotine were once considered “entertainment”. Perhaps Goodell should consider exporting the Jets to France.
I do not understand as to why you would side with a 41 year old quarterback
That makes zero sense to me
He is one hit from retirement
He got that one hit last year from Leonard Floyd. He just smokes too much wackydoodle to realize it.
Somehow, at least to him, this is all Danica’s/Olivia’s/Shailene’s/Jordan’s/his parents’ fault.
You forgot his brother and COVID19
It’s amazing how billion dollar enterprises can make 5 dollar mistakes…
…If you give you a QB more hiring authority than the GM, it’s no longer a business, it’s a love fest.
Guess who lost in the triangle?
Okay, Hackett … you kept your job. Now run the ball 30 times against Buffalo and try to encourage Rodgers to keep throwing to Wilson and maybe Ulbrich can get a victory?
I tried in the past to give Woody Johnson the benefit of the doubt, but he’s either telling the truth here and made one of the most rash decisions in recent years, or is lying and is covering up Rodgers’ or Douglas’ involvement. Neither case speaks highly of Johnson’s decision making or character.
I could easily believe that Johnson did this himself out of personal disgust. I could believe that Rodgers expressed frustration that led, indirectly or not, to Saleh’s firing. I don’t quite believe that Douglas would force him out, since it would hurt him, too. I believe Johnson when he says that he fired Saleh himself, but Rodgers, while not necessarily demanding that Saleh be fired, could still have contributed to his dismissal by boosting up Hackett.
If Rodgers made Johnson think that Hackett was actually the one being short-changed, the decision to fire Saleh after finding out that he wanted to strip play-calling from him could also make sense. In either case, I actually don’t see this being Douglas’ call right now. Johnson seems to have made this decision himself.
Johnson needs to fire himself. He’s at the top. Ultimately, the Jets lack of success is his responsibility.
The reported timeline is interesting….Saleh holds a coaches meeting and informs Hackett he is no longer going to be calling plays, meeting ends and owner meets coach in hallway and fires him. Can just see Hackett texting Rodgers in the middle of the coaches meeting, Rodgers texting owner that he walks if Hackett is demoted, and owner running down the halls to get to Saleh in time to fire him!