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 Jets fire Robert Saleh: Was the move justified? Why now?

Jets fire Robert Saleh: Was the move justified? Why now?

When the Jets sleepwalked through a frustrating loss to the Vikings in London on Sunday, I thought they might try to regain their offseason optimism by trading for wide receiver Davante Adams. But I underestimated their desperation. On Tuesday, in a surprising move, Jets ownership decided to fire head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start, promoting defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim coach. At this point, even Fireman Ed should be on alert.


The timing of the decision is peculiar. While the Jets have been underperforming, they are still 2-3 and would take first place in the AFC East with a win against the Bills on Monday night. Historically, it's rare for a coach to be fired midseason with a .400 or better winning percentage. The last time something similar happened for on-field reasons was in 1961, when Lou Holtz was let go by the Boston Patriots after a 2-3 start. (Jon Gruden resigned in 2021 after a 3-2 start, but his situation involved offensive emails rather than performance.)


The Jets' defense has been their strength this season, ranking fifth in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play. Ulbrich, the defensive play-caller, deserves credit for this, but Saleh's influence—going back to his success in San Francisco from 2017 to 2020—has been vital to the defensive system. Firing a defensive-minded coach when the offense is the team's clear weakness only adds to the confusion surrounding this decision.


And then there's Aaron Rodgers. Even before trading for the veteran quarterback in 2023, the Jets shaped their organization around him. They hired Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator and signed several of Rodgers’ former teammates, including Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Tim Boyle. A week after Saleh voiced concerns about the offense adapting to Rodgers' cadence, the coach was shown the door. It's unclear if Rodgers' remarks about holding players accountable played a role, but it seems Saleh is the one who faced the consequences.


The Jets' offense has been struggling, ranking 22nd in EPA per play, with more turnovers (four) than touchdowns (two) in their last two games. But is Saleh really the root of the problem? Will firing him address New York's offensive struggles and save their season? The decision raises more questions than answers, and whether this drastic move can help the Jets live up to their preseason expectations remains to be seen.