Robert Saleh’s seemingly hasty firing wasn’t a “sudden decision”, claims NFL Insider

The New York Jets fired Robert Saleh and appointed ex-defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as their interim head coach earlier last week.

Robert Saleh’s seemingly hasty firing wasn’t a “sudden decision”, claims NFL Insider

Adam Schefter revealed that Woody Johnson never warmed up to Robert Saleh. (Image via Imago/Deadline)

The New York Jets became the first-ever team to fire their head coach in the middle of the season this year. They bid Robert Saleh farewell after the loss to an unbeaten and superior Minnesota Vikings in Week 5 in London.

The initial thoughts on the firing revolved around the losing record and the involvement of Aaron Rodgers. There was a heated tension between Saleh and Rodgers that has persisted since the game against the New England Patriots. Fans have speculated that this tiff between the key player and the coach could be a potential reason Woody Johnson, the Jets’ owner fired the coach. The theories also strung the issues with Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers’ ally, and the Jets OC into the Saleh drama as well.

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Secondly, there was the timing of the firing that coincided with an action unrelated to football. Saleh, born to Lebanese immigrants, sported a Lebanese badge on the sleeves amid a game. A Muslim advocacy group went as far as to allege that Saleh’s heritage is the reason why he was fired.

However, NFL Insider Adam Schefter has now come out revealing that the decision to fire was not indeed very quick or rash. Schefter said that the decision has been building up for some time.

I think a lot of people viewed it as a rash and sudden decision. But it wasn’t. It has been building up for quite some time. There were a lot of people who felt Woody Johnson never really loved and embraced Robert Saleh all that much.

Adam Schefter on NFL on ESPN

Tedy Bruschi disagrees Robert Saleh is a bad coach amid Adam Schefter’s reveal

Tedy Bruschi, three-time Super Bowl champion, speaking on the Sunday Night Football Countdown, shared that his understanding of the situation was different. He expressed that he believes that this was a knee-jerk situation from the Green and White management.

Robert Saleh (Image via AP)

Bruschi offered a candid critique of the Jets’ ownership, painting the recent decisions as a reflection of the franchise’s long-standing struggles. Bruschi touched upon issues that have been haunting the Jets side for some time now.

[Saleh] isn’t a bad coach. He’s a coach I believe that was learning on the job. He was a coach that dealt with a young quarterback in Zach Wilson, got them through that, and then Aaron Rodgers popping his Achilles, getting them through that, and now this week, getting fired.

Tedy Bruschi said

The New York Jets under a new interim HC Jeff Ulbrich are awaiting the Buffalo Bills at MetLife on SNF. A victory could ease the rumors and drama around the recent storylines as well as gain the first position in AFC East.