Coming into the season coaching for his job, Robert Saleh could not do enough to impress Jets ownership. Five games in, the team will go through with an abrupt course change.
The Jets are firing their fourth-year HC, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This will end an underwhelming tenure for the veteran defensive coach and invite more questions about the franchise’s direction. Saleh will finish his Jets tenure with a 20-36 record. This news comes on the heels of back-to-back losses — to the Broncos and Vikings, dropping the team to 2-3 — and three straight sub-.500 seasons.
[RELATED: Saleh Sought To Reduce Nathaniel Hackett’s Role]
Woody Johnson fired Saleh this morning, blindsiding the HC, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. This is Johnson’s first in-season firing. The Jets had seen every HC finish a season since 1977; Lou Holtz quit to take an Arkansas HC offer in 1976. The Jets had not fired a coach in-season since Charley Winner in 1975.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be named interim HC, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. Ulbrich has been the Jets’ DC throughout Saleh’s tenure, calling the signals on that side of the ball. Given the scrutiny surrounding OC Nathaniel Hackett, he never stood much of a chance to be named the interim option. Ulbrich has a long runway here, given that 12 games remain.
One season remained on Saleh’s contract, Schefter adds. The Jets largely handcuffed Saleh to megabust Zach Wilson, with that partnership extending beyond Year 2 thanks to Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear four plays into the 2023 season. Ownership gave both Saleh and GM Joe Douglas mulligans for 2023, given the franchise’s Rodgers-dependent plan combusting so early. Saleh, 47, has not inspired much confidence this year, as Rodgers has been viewed as the nerve center for the Jets essentially since his April 2023 arrival. That will continue, and Douglas remains in his GM chair. But the latter remains on the hot seat as well.
Hired after four seasons as 49ers DC, Saleh quickly entered an uphill battle thanks to the Wilson pick. The Jets did not add a veteran backup quarterback in 2021, installing Wilson — a BYU product who broke out during a Cougars season that featured an atypical schedule thanks to COVID-19 — as the unquestioned starter from Day 1. Wilson proved quickly he was not up to the job, and Saleh ended up benching the highly touted prospect three times from 2022-23. Ownership not springing for a better backup option in 2023 — inaction largely traced to Johnson’s refusal to spend due to what the franchise already authorized for Rodgers in terms of trade compensation and cash — left Saleh with Wilson for much of last season, leading to a 7-10 record.
Saleh, however, repaired the Jets’ defense early during his run. After a 4-13 2021 squad finished last in both points and yards allowed, the Jets rocketed to fourth place in both categories in 2022. Last season, the Jets finished 12th in scoring and third in yardage defensively. Wilson held this operation back, but Saleh did not do much to confirm he was right to lead the team.
From making comments about Wilson being the best QB option for the Jets (despite having benched him for Tim Boyle) last season to being put on the podium to answer questions about Rodgers and Haason Reddick‘s minicamp absences (for which both were fined, with Reddick never reporting following a March trade), Saleh did not exactly convey strong leadership. Reports of veteran unrest surrounding the HC’s defenses of Wilson emerged at multiple points during Saleh’s tenure as well.
The Jets shipped Wilson to Denver this offseason, signing Tyrod Taylor. But Rodgers has largely not looked his MVP self upon return from his injury, either. This has put Hackett under fire, as the former Broncos HC has gone through a disastrous stretch since his Green Bay run ended. Despite this, Hackett remains in place as the Jets’ play-caller; New York’s offense ranks 23rd in DVOA, 25th in points and 27th in yardage.
The Rodgers trade cranked up the heat on Saleh and Douglas, as the Jets hoped to pair a well-built defense with a four-time MVP. New York’s defense exited Week 5 ranked fifth in scoring and second in yardage, hence Ulbrich’s opportunity over Rodgers’ preferred OC, but friction also appeared to be developing between Saleh and the QB.
Rodgers memorably shoved Saleh away as the HC attempted to embrace the QB on the sideline during a Jets Week 3 win over the Patriots. A loss to the Broncos a week later led Saleh to suggest Rodgers change his cadence, as the team committed five false start penalties. Rodgers bristled at that suggestion, saying the team instead needed to hold players accountable.
Rodgers’ 11th-hour endorsement of Saleh, downplaying the friction, did not do much good. The quarterback, whom a January report pegged as having an outsized influence in the Jets organization, will now work with Ulbrich while continuing to plug away in Hackett’s offense. The Jets had made a backchannel effort to install a veteran assistant to help Hackett after a rough 2023 (which followed the embattled coordinator’s woeful one-and-done as Broncos HC). Saleh had expressed reservations about Hackett last season but kept the Rodgers-backed OC as his offensive play-caller.
It is also worth noting that Woody Johnson did not hire Saleh. Christopher Johnson, who served as acting owner during his brother’s ambassadorial stint, hired him. When Saleh was hired in January 2021, Woody was finishing up a tenure as the country’s UK ambassador under then-president Donald Trump. Christopher also hired Douglas in 2019, and the GM will likely need a quick turnaround to avoid an ouster of his own.
Ulbrich, 47, coached at the Senior Bowl this year and received interest from the 49ers. The NFC West team sought to interview Ulbrich for its DC vacancy; Ulbrich played his entire NFL career with the 49ers. Saleh blocked the interview, as teams are permitted for contracted assistants regarding lateral moves. Now, Ulbrich will take a crack at filling Saleh’s post, as this Jets regime attempts to prevent full-scale change.
Ulbrich worked as Falcons linebackers coach from 2015-18, overlapping with former Saleh boss Kyle Shanahan during part of that tenure. The ex-Dan Quinn staffer moved into Atlanta’s DC role in 2020, when Raheem Morris took over as Falcons interim boss. Saleh, as ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington points out, is the third HC over the past 10 years to be fired in the wake of a London loss; he joins ex-Dolphins and Raiders leaders Joe Philbin and Dennis Allen in that regard.
By being retained for Year 4, Saleh joined a select few modern HCs in surviving after three consecutive sub-.500 seasons. Only six HCs have managed to last into Year 4 without a .500 season in their first three years this century. Dom Capers (Texans), Mike Nolan (49ers), Jeff Fisher (Rams), Gus Bradley (Jaguars) and Jon Gruden (Raiders 2.0) are the other club members.
Despite the Jets having a chance to claim the AFC East lead Monday night against the Bills, Saleh will not have a chance to see a turnaround through. It will not be hard to see Saleh, after the Jets’ defensive performance since 2022 and based on the 49ers defense’s ascent on his watch, earning a DC opportunity in 2025. But he is out of a job in New York. Now, the Douglas watch begins.
Damn.
“Aaron Rodgers to fire Robert Saleh”
Fixed the headline for them.
This is the kind of knee jerk move a desperately badly managed team makes. But it’s the coach’s fault.
Agreed. Would he have been fired if AR wasn’t playing catch with the Vikings secondary? Woody is an idiot.
I wonder who Rodgers is gonna want.
Let Rodgers be the coach. He is anyway.
As someone who enjoys the Jets circus, I hope they elevate Hackett to HC.
They probably will, hence why Saleh was fired and not Hackett.
Hopefully the reason that Saleh had to be escorted out of the building was because he wanted to say goodbye to Rodgers before he left. You know just wishing him well, You know how it is. So Rodgers has a private meeting with Johnson the night before the firing but we’re supposed to believe he had nothing to do with it? C’mon
@rct. That would be classic. I’m so disappointed they didn’t make him interim.
Any number of teams should be blowing up his phone to come “consult” for their defense. Not the best HC, but the man can coach defense. Maybe Dennis Allen could turn things over to him and just focus on overall game management?
I would say the Steelers except anyone brought in will not be allowed to coach beyond the total control of Tomlin. They could have Flores as DC but Tomlin was threatened by him so off he went to Vikings and 5-0 with one of the best defenses in league!
Tomlin is literally the only reason Flores got a job in the NFL last year while his lawsuit against the league was going on.
Dennis Allen could turn things over to Tim Allen and make a positive change.
Here’s to hoping the team is more disciplined under Ullbrich.
developing into some competition for the 2007 Mets
I think that was 2008 if you’re referring to the bizarre way they fired Willie Randolph. But good call nonetheless.
Watching Rodgers in that London game SOOOO reminded me of watching Johnny Unitas at the end of Super Bowl 3 and just thinking of HOW OLD he looked there. That’s what I see when I look at Rodgers.
You watched SB3, Rodgers wasn’t even alive then. You unclemike are OLD
He compared Rodgers play to another great qb who had a similar career path. And your reply is to point out Rodgers wasn’t born yet and that the OP is old? Save your brain cells
That’s exactly what I thought to point out. They barely have footage of that Super Bowl. There are plenty of examples in recent history that could compare to Rodgers but he wanted to show his age by telling us how he watched that SB. He wanted to be recognized so I recognized him
My guy i don’t think that is the case. But let’s dialogue, what QBs do you think are similar to Rodgers. And then which of those played to a similar age and showed regression like what was displayed in London.
I’ll answer for spooky because it’s easy: Peyton Manning.
By all accounts, Unitas’ play style was closer to Peyton’s than Rodgers’ so it’s basically the same comparison.
Fred Belitnikof comes to mind. He was probably never as good as Rodgers but man watching him play showed how old he was because he was old. Even when punting at the very end he looked old. Yes I watched him play. Hated the Raiders then and do to this day. Not the fans or most of them just the organization.
As for the article the Jets ownership just can’t get out of their own way. Make dumb moves so fire the head coach. They haven’t fired a coach mid season because they are too cheap to fire with much left on the contract. It is funny to watch them flounder. If you want to see a great owner Jodie Allen has been great as was her brother before her. Only steps in when asked but has the balls to fire a coach she loved in Pete. No fiddling with the team from on high. She is not great looking but dam billions of dollars makes her hot as hell. I would be up for marrying her. lol
Biletnikoff punted?
Bilentnikoff was old looking but never looked old while playing. And if he’s talking about punters he meant Ray Guy but he never looked old either he was great from beginning to end. Maybe the guy he really meant was George Blanda but he was a K and QB. But he says he actually watched the games I just question how high he was. At least he got the team right so props for that I guess.
I watched George on TV win a couple games at QB for Oakland in relief of Lamonica……had to cheer for a guy that was called “the oldest active player in the NFL”.
Yes he was a QB and punter. Continued to punt after lost QB spot for a couple years.
George Blanda was never a P that I know of. He was a FG kicker and QB.
Blanda punted 22 times in his career, according to his profootballref page.
Biletnikoff never punted, according to the same website.
@Uncle, respectfully you may need to sit this one out and head over to the tent.
Padam- You might need to go for a CT scan. Maybe some Electro Shock? Just , You know, To get yourself back on track also.
Proton- When you’re through please wipe yourself. George Blanda punted 22 times with the Chicago Bears in 1949. Which was 7 years before I was born. So saying you saw him punt for the Raiders makes you a flat out ___. fill in the blanks people. What a clown.
@proton – that entire post threw me off. We’re talking QBs and he’s talking punter with the receivers name.
Big Ben? Matt Ryan?
I’m glad I wasn’t the only guy that saw that connection. Father Time is still undefeated.
Niners!!! Get him back here!!!
Guess when the owner has wasted so much money on a washed up QB you gotta find someone else to blame
It’s not that much money compared to most QBs. Didn’t even give up a To get him. Crappy QBs like Daniel Jones make $40 million per year.
@andre, at this moment in time, Jones has more yds, higher completion % and qb rating. However, based on history I think we can agree Aaron’s under performance is more a negative to a win now Jets team.
I don’t think he was the problem. Maybe they need a change but I still think Saleh is a decent coach, he hasn’t had a good QB since taking over.
Sales is a very good coach who wasn’t dealt the best of hands. Douglas isn’t even a bad GM, either, but rebuilding the Jets was/is a gargantuan task and they made a few bad decisions (Z. Wilson, Becton, Hackett) that offset the good moves that they did make (Vera-Tucker, Williams, Mosley, Gardner, Reed, Allen). Injuries also decimated the team and have nearly every year, but the team looked much more competitive than it should have been after losing its crucial contributors in spurts during Saleh’s tenure.
I’d like to see Saleh get another shot with a more stable ownership group-this firing seems premature and the Jets’ season was hardly too far gone to have been over. They could have very easily turned things around this year, but that’s going to be much more difficult now after they fired the wrong coach, and acquiring Adams is also going to look more desperate and less strategic than it would have before…if they can even pull it off at this point.
At first this was sad news for Saleh, but as the day went on I thought it’s probably the best thing for him. He should’ve gotten paid some good HC money while he was there and now can get a shot at another HC job with a better run organization, and will most likely get a nice DC job meanwhile. Hopefully he’ll choose wisely.
No argument there. I hope that he does get another HC opportunity. I may be in the minority, but I think that he handled his crises as well as he could.
All in all the dysfunction that does exist within the jets being fired should be a bit of relief for Saleh. Whether Rodgers influenced the decision or not the HC is responsible for the progress of the play on the field and addressing that ‘workforce’ was lacking. Fixing the OC role should have happened when recognizing the failure of that groups performance by presenting upper management with ‘data’ to justify change. Although the ‘firing’ conversation content may have contained such a point of discussion.
He can either search for a DC job or wait for the next HC firing cycle which is inevitable and should provide multiple opportunities.
The timing is a little shocking
It probably has to do with next week’s opponent. The Jets were touted as the next division champions, but they must beat the Bills to make that happen. It’s a good thing they kept Hackett to minimize those chances.
If that’s the case-and you certainly could be right-it’s an awful way to try to gain an advantage.
Sounds like Hackett is being relieved of playcalling duties. Todd Downing is expected to take over.
If the cowboys flounder in the regular season / post season again Dallas should get rid of McCarthy and bring in Saleh.
Saleh did pretty well considering all the obstacles he faced esp at QB.
If Cowboys lost the Steelers, I felt we would be taking about interim HC for them as well.
Saleh was not the problem
Yes and no, I’d say. The issues the Jets have extend way beyond the HC. They’re a poorly run franchise with an aging, arrogant QB that wants to run the show. None of that is Saleh’s fault. I’m not sure there is a HC out there that they could plug in to cover that up.
Saleh also wasn’t the answer in NY, though. They need a strong personality with an equally strong resume, who will also stand up at times and say: “that’s insane, we’re not doing that.” Again, who that is, I have no idea. There is the obvious name, but he’s made some absurd decisions of his own in the post-Brady years.
Well said. May not be the problem, per se, but not the answer, either.
The jets are a super bowl contender according to oooooof and I know nothing. Maybe 5 wins my friend. Rodgers looking as predicted
I said more than five wins. I didn’t say Super Bowl contender.
Super Bowl Contender? You mean pretender? Or is there another Super Bowl I don’t know about?
another great moment in jets history !
I read this as an announcer voiceover in my head.
Slight echo, add a bugle sound.
It all comes down to when you draft poorly, trade poorly, hire poorly, mange poorly it will equal a poor run team. Jets always shoot for the moon and miss, drafting a QB that should have been a 5th round at its best, trade for a 40-year-old QB, acquire everyone he wants, now trying to acquire Adams. Now firing the HC, in hopes this lights a fire underneath this team. Jets had at one time the best team defense; they played off that well. What happen? The Jet offense has not been a major player for this team, now they get a very veteran QB that was thinking retiring at one time, sign ex-packer WR’s, with no offensive line, or run game. Trying to capture lightning in a bottle, is not what builds a championship team. Good drafting, good trades, a strong front office from top to bottom with a good scouting department, this firing is just a put a band-aid on the problem, someone has to be the scape goat and the HC was it. Still have not solve the problem, the Knicks figured it out, the Mets, the Yankees, their is still hope for the Jets except until they come to grips with their own fumbling front office and ownership well all we can do is hope they see the light.
Dumb Sportsball Fans insert NBA references into NFL stories. OINK!
Lol, poor ChuckyNJ is cranky that his Jets are a trainwreck.
The thing is the Jets generally have drafted very well, but missing at quarterback has undercut them too much.
It Carr had taken the Jets offer, the Jets would have been a problem.
I contend that even Jacoby Brissett makes the Jets trouble.
But they went with Rodgers, and I love it.
He had to take a hippie retreat to decide if he even wanted to play. Then he takes off to Egypt during training camp.
Hahaha
Listen though, I hate the Jets, but as lifetime Bills fan , I know hardship – I respect the diehards that still pull for this team.
Its really hard right now.
Great, now since they can’t fire Aaron’s boyfriend Nate Hackett, they needed to get an offensive-minded interim head coach who can handle an offense and usurp Hackett’s control of things. Their interim choice won’t really fix anything.
At this point of the season, Rodgers can’t say “they can handle it”. They can’t.
At this point they’re just wasting a talented roster. By next year they need to go after a 1st round QB and hire somebody like Klint Kubiak to run the team.
Ulbirch already named interim HC
Did you actually read the story? The defensive coordinator is the interim head coach — Jeff Ulbrich has a good rep around the league.
Yeah, I read it, I’m saying what they need to do. It doesn’t matter. Rodgers runs the team. Until they usurp that it’s going to be a merry-go-round.
I’m laughing at the people who say you can’t read when they misread your comment. Agree with you that there’s no one to reign in Hackett anymore…things are about to go from bad to worse for Jets fans.
Thanks man. Yeah, it’s just painfully obvious. If Saleh is out they should crack the whip on Hackett too. The glaring alert of their sinking ship is coming from the offensive side of the hull. Giving Rodgers “Russell Wilson” like carte blanche is a kneecapping to anything that Saleh could do. “Not disciplined” How can you when QB goes to Egypt during mandatory camp time? Rodgers is the f’n captain! It’s selfish and lazy, go golfing dude! lol
It’s sidelined garbage. This guy Saleh might not be the best coach but this front office is getting everything they deserve.
Might as well fast forward to ’25. This is going to be sports talk show drama all of ’24.
Next season, wait for it…Bill Belichick is handed the reins to this team!
Who blew the whistle on the Patriots’ spying operation? Eric Mangini — when he was the Jets’ head coach.
Belichick will be the Giants HC next year.
Maybe but don count out two of their division rivals.
Nobody’s hiring a loser in his 70’s to coach in the NFC East.
Well, they brought in a geriatric QB, so who knows?
Wrong. Belichick will coach either the Eagles or Giants next year. For a loser, he sure has alot of SB rings.
If you’re going to do it, why now? That team isn’t going anywhere this season.
Jets are 2nd in AFC East on a tie-breaker over Miami. MNF vs. Buffalo next week is for the division lead.
And a team that “isn’t going anywhere” is a team that’s not getting plum TV slots — think Patriots.
Fair points.
They still should not have done this midseason. They should not have fired Saleh at all, but firing him this early in what was still a salvageable season will hurt the team in a big way.
Maybe tank for Milroe or Beck as a successor. Rodgers maybe has 1 good year left or less
Agreed…they should’ve fired him after they lose to Buffalo on national TV Monday night.
A bit surprised he didn’t get at least 8 games this year, but he won’t be out of work long
This team has too much talent to be 2-3. Sauce/Wilson/Hall/Williams etc. I agree that Saleh did take forever to move on from Wilson last year but this year the offense stinks bc of the QB/OC stepbrothers relationship. I think any future coach who wants this job will have to be okay with Rodgers meddling into the franchise’s plans. SMH
So stupid. Saleh was not the problem. The defense has played well, even with Mosley and Johnson out. The players have played hard for him even in lost seasons. Rodgers is banged up and he and Hackett run an outdated offense with too little motion, play action, and deception to scheme people open or create opportunities for a great RB tandem. And why punt on the season this early?
Someone will get a fantastic defensive coordinator next year.
Jets also had their ground game bottled up by Denver and now Minnesota — you can’t win if you don’t have a good rushing attack.
Hackett is the one who should be fired, but Minnesota also shut down SF and Houston. Seems silly to overreact to losing to a buzz saw.
Keep watching this nightmare thru rose colored glasses. This offensive line is putrid. Rodgers is on his last leg LITERALLY. Your defense is defenseless. It’s next year in the rotten apple.
Agreed. Rodgers is, despite peoples’ personal dislike of him, still a good quarterback and is still capable of running the team. Saleh was a great defensive coach, and was, in my opinion, a good head coach who was handed a difficult hand. Hackett, however, hasn’t held his water. It may tick Rodgers off, but the Jets’ best hope was to fire Hackett and keep Rodgers and Saleh to attempt to capitalize this year. They need the offense to perform better, not the defense.
Rodgers might be stiffer and older, but he can still make plays. Hackett can’t ride his coattails anymore, though. Those days are behind them.
Good call, but you have to keep running anyway while the offensive line gets better. Rodgers gets hit way too often.
You don’t fire an HC unless you think you can get a better one. Good luck with that!
LoL…as if he’s the problem with this organization.
Come back to SF!!!!
Saleh has the worst winning percentage of any Jets coach (min 40 games) at .357
I know all the “Rodgers runs he team” comments. He did not do that in GB. Why would he do that now?
The Jets are just a bad franchise.
Sounds like someone who prefers the Panthers or Patriots.
I seem to remember hearing in passing a comment that was made in the last televised Jet game that Saleh had just decided to become more of a part of the Quarterback meetings. I wonder if that had anything to do with this firing? I mean would you consider that at this point of his career that Aaron Rodgers wants to have complete control to make in game decisions and play calling?
Joe Flacco would perform better on this team than cooked Rodgers.
I still think they give the Bills a hard time this week.
Rodgers has spoken
Did they leave him in London?
Rodgers shoved him in front of a bus just like Brian did to Stevie in “Family Guy”.
Panic mode. There season is already lost trying to pick up the pieces. Of course Arod doesn’t shoulder any blame, he’s too terrific. Think the Jets fans are ready for him to ayahuasca it up in some cave somewhere far from NY. Hackett is Aaron’s ol snuggle buddy so he’s bulletproof.
Fan of New England? Miami? Dallas? Cincinnati? Carolina?
He’s just stating what every NFL aficionado except Jets fans already knows.
“What every NFL aficionado” = everyone brainwashed by Sportsball TV and talk radio.
They’re the people who drool over the Giants without bringing up that club’s culture of entitlement. They’re the people who drool over the Chiefs without bringing up the criminality and misogyny.
Jets gonna Jet.
Robert Saleh is a good coach who was given a bad hand in NY. Most of the signings the Jets have made were to keep Rodgers happy. Same as the coaching staff. Those aren’t his guys. Through it all he was still confident and up for the challenge. He’s not without his fair share of blame though.
The offense has looked way better under Rodgers and Hackett than it did under MLF and Zach. If youre able to look past PPG its fairly clear that is the case
One of the most uninspiring offenses I’ve seen in a long time.
Did you close your eyes while watching the Jets offenses since 2016 or something?
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: Until this morning, the Jets had not dismissed a head coach during the season.
Douglass and Hackett should follow at season’s end
Who would you bring in to run player personnel? Joe Douglas’ expertise is in player development.
Horrible GM
Damn what a way to go out. Poor guy never had a chance the second he wanted Zac Wilson second overall pick to be his franchise QB
Not exactly against the move itself, but not sure I like the timing. Jets faced a really good Vikings team and almost came back, so was it purely based on performance or was there something between him and Woody?
Yikes, not like they were 0-5. If the leash was that short they should have moved on in the offseason
Rodgers throws 3 picks, one returned for a TD and the game sealing pick was caught by a defender already falling to the ground when a relatively easy back shoulder throw gets the go ahead TD. So let’s fire the defensive minded head coach who has the defense playing well and kept the team in the game against an undefeated opponent. Sounds reasonable.
And to think Lions fans were bummed when Salah shunned his hometown of Detroit (Dearborn) when he took the Jets job and the Lions were forced to settle for Dan Campbell. For once it appears the Lions got it right but the again look who I’m comparing them to…the Jets of all teams.
It’s an absolute JOKE that Mrs. Karen Rogers is basically the queen of this team! Anyone worth a damn can see he’s running the show, and I love the fact that he looks like total trash! Jets are what they always are, a total dumpster fire!
Robert Saleh ended a 50 year losing streak to the Eagles so naturally you can’t keep a guy like that in your organization 🙂
Robert Saleh will return to the 49ers next season as their DC
He was fired for showing his support for Lebanon. The powers that be didn’t like that.
Do you support a terrorist organization that rains tens of rockets down on civilians on daily basis for over year?
No, I do not support Israel.
Look what I found, we have an anti semite spotting!!
Earth to Lifted Mind: That smear originated with Joe Benigno, talk radio screecher who is dodging a criminal complaint of sexual harassment.
The AFC east is an absolute garbage heap. Buffalo is not good. The Jets are just the jets. The Dolphins are cat food. The Patriots are absolute trash.
Woody Johnson needs to sell the team
Saleh just bought a Bills jersey.
– unconfirmed sources
Did Saleh deserve to be fired? Yes of course he did. Did he deserve to be fired on a Tuesday and escorted by security out of the building 5 games into an ‘all-in’ season? I doubt it.
Saleh was never head coaching material. Once Rodgers showed up the writing was on the wall. Rodgers brought in his buddies and Saleh wasn’t one of them so we could all see the clock was running out on the Saleh regime.
Now, tepee Jets will future mortgage their future by trading for Rogers pal Devontae Adams. This will cause a divide in the locker room and players like Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams will rebel. Still, the old saying applies, Typical Jets.
The Dude wouldn’t be the first player to “influence” coaching employment but this has been building before AR arrived.
I never believed for a moment that Saleh was as supportive of Wilson as he’s been accused. It always felt like he was prepped what to say to the media … aka: setup as the patsy for one of the worst draft picks ever. Not in the hindsight either. It was obvious the moment Goodell read the pick.
Sure they needed a QB but FUBAR’d getting Sunshine … but Zach F’n Wilson? Then compounded the brain fart by making him QB1?
Then again, historically, had they even drafted Lawrence, they’re not exactly known for their QB Development ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The only stench that somewhat camouflages the Wilson pick is the eternally baffling Niner trade up for Lance … but the distinction is not all that great lol