The Robert Saleh period with the Jets has arrived a quick, stunning finish on Tuesday morning.
Proprietor Woody Johnson fired Saleh, 5 video games into his fourth 12 months as head coach, simply earlier than 10 a.m. two days after The Jets lost 23-17 to the Vikings in London, their second disappointing loss in a row.
Jets named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach.
The transfer was stunning due to the timing of it.
The Jets are 2-3 and had encouraging wins in opposition to the Titans and Patriots this season.
However Saleh, who had one 12 months left on his contract, could not overcome a 20-36 general report and Johnson’s sense that he wasn’t fixing what was mistaken with the Jets, who entered this season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations.
“After I take a look at this crew, I have been doing this for 25 years and that is in all probability one of the best crew I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson stated on Tuesday afternoon’s convention name with reporters. “And I simply felt like one of the best ways to maneuver ahead was a brand new route. I assumed that will get probably the most out of this crew and provides us one of the best likelihood that all of us wish to have, which goes to the playoffs.”
That is the primary time Johnson has made a training change as an proprietor in the course of the season.
Johnson, 77, was livid after the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Broncos final week, in line with sources.
He needed Saleh to make radical adjustments.
Observe the newest information on the firing of New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh:
As a substitute, Saleh preached endurance, however Johnson was out of it.
The Jets then flopped in London, the place Johnson served because the U.S. ambassador to the U.Okay. underneath former President Donald Trump from 2017-21.
Johnson had an extended flight dwelling to consider the crew’s future and determined Tuesday morning to fireside Saleh.
Saleh confirmed as much as work able to recreation plan for the Payments, the Jets’ opponent on Monday evening.
Shortly earlier than 10 a.m., Johnson and his brother Christopher walked into Saleh’s workplace and broke the information. Saleh needed to say goodbye to the crew however was not given the possibility.
He was requested to go away the constructing.
Johnson stated that call was not made primarily based on the final two losses, however slightly on Saleh’s efficiency.
“It wasn’t simply the final two video games that led to this choice. It is a longer time frame,” Johnson stated. “I’ve had a number of years to consider it. And sure, I simply assume we are able to do higher. The crew can do higher. Because the crew realizes what a chance that is for them, I feel they are going to attain a stage we’ve not seen shortly.”
Johnson introduced Saleh again after a second straight 7-10 season final 12 months with the stipulation that he can be out if the crew flopped this 12 months.
Nevertheless, Saleh anticipated to get a full season to make a playoff push with Aaron Rodgers, however solely bought 5 video games.
Sources stated Johnson was bored with seeing the identical issues with the crew that had plagued him the previous few years — a sluggish begin, a excessive variety of penalties and sloppy offensive play.
The Jets anticipated issues to vary with Rodgers at quarterback, however they’re nonetheless dropping with the identical components of a protection that holds the opponent down after which offensive errors that value them video games.
The Jets didn’t hearth offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, however sources stated Saleh was getting ready to take the punter duties from him and provides them to Todd Downing, the crew’s operating recreation coordinator and quarterbacks coach, earlier than he was fired.
Ulbrich stated he’ll take a “deep dive” into offensive tackles and indicated he’ll contemplate a brand new play caller.
He stated he doesn’t foresee any personnel adjustments.
“I feel one of many causes I made a decision to make a training change is simply this: Now we have to search out methods to win,” Johnson stated. “And so we’re not going to search out these methods by doing the identical factor time and again and over. I feel Jeff will add one thing. It’ll add a spark of positivity. The adjustments we have to make offensively, we are going to make. We are going to attempt to get higher. This can be a new alternative for all of us.”
Johnson stated he spoke with Rodgers Monday evening, however they didn’t focus on Saleh’s future.
There isn’t any indication from any sources that Rogers was concerned within the choice.
The gamers personally expressed their shock on the choice to fireside Saleh. He was in style within the dressing room and the gamers nonetheless performed arduous for him.
Johnson stated he consulted with normal supervisor Joe Douglas, however Johnson emphasised that it was his choice alone. That is the primary teaching change for the Jets in a season since 1976, when Lou Holtz left with one recreation remaining.
“I’ve had sufficient expertise doing this stuff,” Johnson stated. “It is the primary time I’ve achieved it so early. I assumed and I feel it would assist this proficient crew obtain the objectives that the crew needs, I need and the followers need.”
