GREEN BAY, Wis. — It didn’t take Robert Saleh lengthy to search out work.
Simply over two weeks after being fired by the New York Jets, Saleh was on the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ follow subject Wednesday in a brand new position.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who has credited Saleh for serving to him break into the NFL teaching ranks, has enlisted his longtime buddy to assist with the crew.
Saleh spent the early portion of follow watching the offensive facet of the ball.
“Yeah, I believe it helps,” LaFleur stated. “Having a defensive thoughts speaking offense and serving to us with issues he would possibly be capable of see, sort of related scheme stuff, issues the protection is perhaps in search of, it helps.”
He added, “I believe he is received an elite defensive thoughts. However that is why I would like him on the offensive facet, so he can assist us assault the defenses.”
LaFleur stated Saleh would work the crew by way of Thursday this week and referred to as his position “fluid.” Saleh has been staying at LaFleur’s home this week.
Saleh and LaFleur first labored collectively at Central Michigan College as graduate assistants in 2004. They shared an house that had two beds and a kitchen desk however no chairs.
In 2008, Saleh persuaded then-Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak to carry LaFleur aboard as an offensive assistant. They’re so shut that LaFleur was the perfect man in Saleh’s marriage ceremony. Saleh as soon as employed LaFleur’s brother, Mike, to be his offensive coordinator with the Jets (2021-22).
Out of respect for his or her friendship, Saleh stated through the 2023 offseason, when the Jets had been negotiating commerce phrases with the Packers to amass Aaron Rodgers, that he and LaFleur agreed to not talk about the quarterback and to let the final managers of every crew deal with the commerce.
Saleh additionally beforehand labored with first-year Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, though Saleh will not be aiding on that facet of the ball in Inexperienced Bay. Hafley was the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2018. Saleh grew to become the Niners’ defensive coordinator in 2017 — a job he held till the Jets employed him in 2021.
However Saleh is not going to be doing something with Hafley’s facet of the ball.
“No, I do not wish to try this. I believe Haf and our defensive employees have an important factor going proper now,” LaFleur stated. “And I completely belief them, so I believe it is Yr 1, he is sort of received to undergo it himself. So, I do not wish to try this.”
Jets proprietor Woody Johnson fired Saleh on Oct. 8 after a 2-3 begin to the season that started with excessive expectations given the return of Rodgers from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered within the 2023 opener. Saleh was 20-36 in three-plus seasons and by no means led the Jets to a playoff look.
Saleh was not out there to reporters in Inexperienced Bay on Wednesday. LaFleur joked that he informed Saleh to take a while off after he was let go by the Jets.
“Properly, I informed him to do this, however he did not hear,” LaFleur stated. “So, yeah, I simply assume it speaks to how a lot he loves the sport of soccer and was, clearly it is powerful when it will get sort of taken away from you. And I do not assume it was the appropriate resolution [to fire Saleh], however that is not for me to say, so.”
Packers quarterback Jordan Love stated he has not requested Rodgers about Saleh however likes the concept of getting an additional set of eyes on the offense from somebody with a special perspective.
“Having a defensive thoughts speaking offense and serving to us with issues he would possibly be capable of see, sort of related scheme stuff, issues the protection is perhaps in search of, it helps,” Love stated.
The Packers don’t play the Jets this season.
This isn’t the primary time LaFleur has made a midseason addition to his employees. In November 2022, he introduced in Aubrey Nice shortly after he was let go because the defensive backs coach with the Lions. Nice assisted LaFleur and the offensive employees for the remainder of that season.
