‘Disappointed’ Robert Saleh reportedly was taken aback by Jets’ sudden decision to fire him

Head coach Robert Saleh was reportedly blinded when the Jets' owner Woody Johnson came into his office to fire him due to the 2-3 record.

‘Disappointed’ Robert Saleh reportedly was taken aback by Jets’ sudden decision to fire him

Robert Saleh (Via NY Post)

After how the 2023 season ended, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh was on the hot seat this season, but alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, it looked like he had a safety blanket. But no one expected the franchise to take action midway through the season, as they shocked everyone this Tuesday morning by firing Saleh ahead of the week 6’s match against the Buffalo Bills. 

A FOX Sports insider revealed that Saleh, who has a 20-36 record in New York in the last three seasons, was absolutely blinded by this news. In the released statement by the team, owner Woody Johnson suggested the differences between them and Saleh but judging by a tweet from Jay Glazer, the real story is something else. 

YouTube video

Just talked to Robert Saleh who said was blindsided by Woody Johnson walking to his office and letting him go. Certainly disappointed he wasn’t going to be given the opportunity to get things going with what he said is a very good roster.

Jay Glazer wrote on X

Saleh has spent three seasons coaching the Jets and in all three, the Jets have suffered with quarterback room problems. His debut season was with Zach Wilson, which concluded on a bizarre 4-13 note. Following this, the Jets experienced significant instability in the quarterback situation, as Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, and even Chris Streveler for one game, were made starters in different games. 

Things were set to be easier with the addition of a veteran talent such as Rodgers, but then he sustained an ACL torn injury and sat out the entire season in recovery. Coming to this 2024 season, the Jets’ performance has hardly improved as they dropped to a 2-3 season standing. 

Jets’ Robert Saleh’s tension with quarterback Aaron Rodgers

While many elements contributed to Saleh’s departure from the Jets, quarterback Rodgers’ involvement seemed evident. He and the head coach had been having disagreements for several weeks now, whose glimpses were caught by the fans and media in week 3 on the field, when the quarterback gave a death stare to Saleh as he came to hug them. 

Robert Saleh claims Aaron Rodgers is 'excited to attack' this season for the Jets despite VP talks
Robert Saleh and Aaron Rodgers (Image via IMAGO)

Although the two cleared the air by saying that there’s no beef between them, Rodgers put the blame for the loss against the Denver Broncos entirely on Saleh. This decision by the Jets is being heavily criticized all over social media, as fans are labeling this as the “Aaron Rodgers effect.”

The Jets became a subject of intense scrutiny when Dianna Russini reported that they were not planning to fire Offensive Coordinator Hackett. Meanwhile, the decision to fire Saleh appears to have been made hastily, especially considering that the team’s defense– his primary area of expertise, remains quite strong compared to the struggling offense for which Rodgers and Hackett are responsible.