Robert Saleh knew he was under scrutiny as the 2024 NFL season began. On Tuesday morning, the New York Jets made a decisive move to relieve him of his duties.

After a disappointing start to the season with two wins and three losses, compounded by friction with star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, team owner Woody Johnson decided it was time for change, making Saleh the first coach to be fired in the league this year.

Johnson expressed, “This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets. I want to thank him for his hard work over the past three-and-a-half years and wish him and his family the best in the future. This was a difficult decision, but we are not meeting our expectations, and I believe it’s the right moment for a new direction.

“(Defensive coordinator) Jeff Ulbrich will take over as our Interim Head Coach for the rest of the season. He is a strong leader who earns the respect of both the coaches and players on this team. I believe he and the coaching staff can maximize our talented squad and achieve the goals we set earlier this offseason.”

This marks the end of yet another frustrating coaching period for the Jets, with Saleh concluding his term with a record of 20-36 over more than three years.

Despite having solid defensive performances, Saleh, 45, struggled with long-standing quarterback problems, first with Zach Wilson—the second overall pick in the 2021 draft who largely failed to meet expectations—and then with Rodgers. Rodgers, a four-time MVP, was supposed to bring new Super Bowl aspirations after joining the team from the Green Bay Packers in 2023. However, following an Achilles injury that sidelined him in the first game last season, this year’s rocky start has been too much for Johnson to ignore, especially after he anticipated significant improvements this year.

Even though there was a chance to win in another fourth quarter, the Jets lost their second consecutive game against the Minnesota Vikings in London, with the offense led by Rodgers struggling noticeably after recent improvements. The timing between the quarterback and his receivers appeared off, and despite having the explosive Breece Hall as a running back, the team’s running game ranks last in the league with an average of 80.4 yards per game. These accumulating challenges have led to increased talk that General Manager Joe Douglas might pursue unhappy Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, who earned five Pro Bowl selections during his eight seasons with Rodgers in Green Bay.

Despite Saleh’s defensive unit consistently ranking in the top five over the last three seasons, he ultimately faced the consequences. He and Rodgers defended their connection, particularly amid inquiries about their sideline communications and whether Rodgers’ well-known pre-snap behaviors affected offensive timing.

Rodgers stated, “(W)e have a great friendship. We enjoy each other,” regarding Saleh just a few days ago.

“We spend a lot of time together, discussing the team’s energy and focus, what needs to be achieved, and how we can support each other’s roles. We have an excellent relationship.”

However, those comments didn’t quell rumors about Rodgers wielding significant influence at the Jets’ operations, nor did they lead to a victory that might have saved Saleh’s job.

Johnson had emphasized back in February during Super Bowl week, “We have all this talent, and we need to utilize it effectively. This year is crucial. We must deliver results.” This followed Saleh’s second straight season with a 7-10 record.

“We need to definitely achieve more than seven wins.”

Up until Tuesday, Johnson had never dismissed a coach mid-season since purchasing the Jets in 2000. The last time the team had an interim coach was back in 1976 when Lou Holtz stepped down after a disappointing 3-10 start and moved on to become the head coach at the University of Arkansas.

“(T)he NFL is chaotic by nature. You’re either facing a crisis, or you’re aiming for the Super Bowl; there’s rarely a middle ground,” Saleh remarked on what turned out to be his final day in front of the media.

“The standings now will look very different by the end of the season. There’s still a lot of football to play, and we can certainly improve and build on our strengths. So, there’s no panic among us.”

The Jets have not won more than seven games in a single season since 2015 when they managed a 10-6 record. Their last playoff appearance was in 2010, marking a 13-year absence that is the longest active drought in the NFL. Their only Super Bowl participation occurred after the 1968 season when they surprised many by defeating the heavily favored Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III, a game often regarded as a pivotal moment in football history.

Yet currently, the Jets seem far from breaking their championship drought.

Jets’ performance under Robert Saleh

Since his hiring in 2021, Saleh accumulated a record of 20-36 as the Jets’ head coach.

2021: 4-13

2022: 7-10

2023: 7-10

2024: 2-3

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