Jets fire head coach Robert Saleh after a disappointing 2-3 start to the season.
The New York Jets parted ways with Saleh on Tuesday, following reports from multiple sources, with ESPN being the first to break the news. This decision came after a lackluster beginning to the season, particularly after the much-anticipated return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers from an Achilles injury.
At 45 years old, Saleh was in his fourth season with the Jets, holding a record of 20 wins and 36 losses. He was hired prior to the 2021 season, having made a name for himself during a successful four-year stint as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, which included a Super Bowl appearance in 2020. Under Saleh’s leadership, the Jets’ defense showed promise, finishing fourth in yards allowed in 2022 and third in 2023.
Despite a strong defensive start to the 2024 season, where the Jets ranked second in yards allowed with an average of 255.8 per game, the offense struggled significantly. This inconsistency ultimately led to Saleh’s dismissal, as the Jets ranked 27th in total offense and 25th in scoring, averaging just 18.6 points per game.
The team’s offensive woes were starkly evident in their last two games. They suffered a narrow defeat to the Denver Broncos at home, losing 10-9, and then lost 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings in London, where Rodgers threw three interceptions, including a critical pick-six.
Expectations were high for the Jets entering the 2024 season, especially with Rodgers returning after a season-ending injury in 2023. The quarterback had only played four snaps in his debut before suffering the injury, leaving fans and management eager for a fresh start.
Questions surrounding the relationship between Saleh and Rodgers had emerged, particularly after Rodgers missed mandatory minicamp in June. Despite both parties publicly asserting a strong bond, it was not enough to retain Saleh’s position. His firing marks a significant moment, as he becomes the first coach dismissed in the 2024 NFL season and the first head coach that Jets owner Woody Johnson has fired mid-season in his 25 years as the team’s owner.
Following Saleh’s departure, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named the interim head coach. Ulbrich, 47, has been with the Jets for the past four seasons, working alongside Saleh.
