The New York Jets have officially fired head coach Robert Saleh, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the NFL. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Saleh was informed of the firing early in the morning at 10 a.m. ET. The team quickly made a public announcement, with Jets owner Woody Johnson releasing a statement confirming Saleh’s departure. In the interim, defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been promoted to serve as the head coach.
@nyjets (New York Jets)
Twitter Oct 8, 2024 https://x.com/nyjets/status/1843669627219653130
This news comes after the Jets stumbled to a 2-3 record early in the 2024 season.
Unfortunately, during Saleh’s tenure, the team never managed to achieve a winning season, despite the high hopes that surrounded his arrival in 2021.
Saleh’s journey with the Jets began with high expectations. He was brought in to replace Adam Gase and arrived with a reputation as one of the league’s most promising defensive minds. After four successful seasons as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Saleh became a sought-after head coaching candidate. The Jets were in desperate need of leadership at the time, having no franchise quarterback but holding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Jets ultimately selected Zach Wilson with that second overall pick—a decision that would come back to haunt the franchise. Wilson struggled to live up to expectations and ultimately became a significant setback for the team. While it remains unclear how much of the blame Saleh should bear for Wilson’s failure, it was a decision that would define his time in New York. Unfortunately, Saleh was tied to Wilson’s performance, regardless of his personal input into the selection.
Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Saleh was taken by surprise when he received the news of his dismissal. His shock likely stemmed from the fact that there were signs of hope for the team just months earlier.
Before the 2023 season, the Jets made a blockbuster trade to acquire future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. At 39 years old, Rodgers still had enough left in his career to inspire optimism in New York, and there was belief that Saleh could finally prove himself with an elite quarterback at the helm.
However, disaster struck early. Rodgers tore his Achilles just four plays into the first game of the 2023 season, a catastrophic event that once again left Saleh relying on Wilson as the starting quarterback. After three years of waiting to see what Saleh could achieve with a quality signal-caller, the Jets gave him only five games with Rodgers before deciding to end his tenure.
Saleh finishes his time with the Jets after 56 games, amassing a disappointing 20-36 record. Although the team’s struggles were numerous and undeniable, Saleh had to deal with a series of unfortunate events during his time in New York. From the disastrous drafting of Wilson to Rodgers’ abrupt injury, Saleh never got the opportunity to showcase his potential with a stable quarterback situation.
It’s hard not to wonder what could have been if Saleh had even a league-average quarterback in his early years with the Jets. Would the team have turned out differently? While that remains impossible to determine, it’s clear that the Jets’ front office had seen enough and decided to move in a new direction.
What Could Have Been for Robert Saleh and the Jets?
Robert Saleh’s time with the New York Jets is now a closed chapter, but it’s one filled with many “what-ifs.” His tenure was marred by unfortunate circumstances, from Zach Wilson’s underperformance to Aaron Rodgers’ devastating injury. While the results on the field did not meet expectations, the question remains: how would Saleh have fared if just one thing had gone his way? Ultimately, the Jets decided it was time to move forward, leaving fans to wonder what the future could have held under different conditions.
