Head coach Robert Saleh of the New York Jets celebrates with Aaron Rodgers #8 after a landing in opposition to the New England Patriots in the course of the second quarter within the recreation at MetLife Stadium on September 19, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Al Bello | Getty Pictures
The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday amid the workforce’s disappointing begin to this season and obvious tensions between star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the now-former sideline boss.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will act because the workforce’s interim head coach, the Jets introduced, as Saleh leaves Florham Park, New Jersey, with an total document of 20-26 in a little bit greater than 3 1/4 seasons on the helm.
“This morning, I knowledgeable Robert Saleh that he’ll not function Head Coach of the Jets,” workforce proprietor Woody Johnson mentioned in an announcement.
“This was not a straightforward choice however we aren’t the place we needs to be given our expectations, and I imagine now’s the perfect time for us to maneuver in a unique path.”
The workforce entered this 2024 marketing campaign with excessive hopes and Rodgers’ return to the huddle after lacking practically all of 2023 with a leg harm.
The Jets had been blown out within the season opener by the San Francisco 49ers earlier than rebounding with wins over the woeful Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots.
However the previous two weekends have resulted in irritating losses, at house to the Denver Broncos and in London in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings.
Along with the dropping, there’s additionally been perceived rigidity between Rogers and Saleh.
The Jets dedicated 5 false begin penalties within the Denver loss and Saleh mentioned it might be linked to the difficult cadence Rodgers employs when barking out pre-snap alerts.
And within the win over New England, Rodgers appeared to rebuff an tried hug from Saleh after a landing.
On the time of his hiring, Saleh was celebrated as the primary Muslim head coach of an NFL workforce. He was escorted off of workforce headquarters by the workforce’s safety director, NBC Sports activities reported.
U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., referred to as Saleh’s firing a “uncooked deal” and pinned the workforce’s poor fortunes on Rodgers, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, the entrance workplace and former QB Zach Wilson.
“Robert Saleh received a uncooked deal and Aaron Rodgers undermined him each step of the best way,” Bowman posted on X. “This was downhill since @nyjets drafted Zach Wilson. Nathaniel Hackett is trash. Saleh saved the protection nice by the hardest occasions. Uncooked deal.”
The lame duck lawmaker additionally puzzled out loud if Saleh’s embrace of his Lebanese heritage may have performed any position on this termination. Though Saleh has worn a patch of the Lebanese flag on his in-game gear earlier than, that vogue accent drew new eyes Sunday within the wake of Israel’s ongoing assault on its northern neighbor.
Saleh can also be the third coach on this previous decade to be fired after his workforce misplaced in London.
The Oakland Raiders terminated Dennis Allen in 2014, following an 0-4 begin and loss to the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.
Miami fired Joe Philbin after his 1-3 Dolphins misplaced in 2015 to the Jets, additionally at Wembley.