Aaron Rodgers' influence continues to grow as the Jets release Robert Saleh

Henry McKenna

NFL reporter

Aaron Rodgers' coup d'etat is complete.

Robert Saleh — the guy Rodgers pushed on live TV — is no longer the head coach of the New York Jets. The team released Saleh on Tuesday.

And Rodgers appears to have increased his influence in New York.

The Jets quarterback has steadily gained power over the organization since New York traded him in 2023. First with the additions of receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, then with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

And then there's the transaction we're all waiting for: the trade for Raiders star receiver Davante Adams.

Now you're probably thinking: That's silly, Henry. Rodgers didn't get Saleh fired. Just listen to what Rodgers said about his former head coach.

“There will always be news and narratives, and you have two choices,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “You can ride the wave – a roller coaster ride, actually – or say, 'Fuck, I don't care.' And I am the latter. I don't understand what's going on around me outside the building.

“The relationships I have – the most important ones – are looking a man in the eyes in the locker room or in a meeting room and knowing that he has your back and you have his back.”

But during his appearances on McAfee's show, Rodgers streams endlessly be Truth – which is often factually inaccurate. So don't mind my assumption about his support for Saleh – especially since the Jets released him just weeks after Rodgers shoved the man on TV in front of an audience of millions.

It's hard to imagine Saleh thinking Rodgers “has his back.”

If Rodgers did, Saleh would still have a job.

Reaction to the Jets' firing of head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start

Now, it would have been too obvious a coup if the Jets had installed Hackett as interim coach – because that would simply mean that Rodgers was the interim coach. So New York hired defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich instead.

Ulbrich is a Saleh guy – they came in together. And so Ulbrich will take full responsibility for the defense, which was solid even though the Jets' opponents weren't offensive powerhouses (Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans). However, it remains to be seen whether Ulbrich will have an impact on the offense.

Robert Saleh's attempt to hug Aaron Rodgers didn't go as planned when he celebrated a touchdown during a game against the Patriots on September 19. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

This begs the question: Was this the right step and will anything change?

It certainly wasn't pretty for Saleh in the end. Players like running back Breece Hall and rookie receiver Malachi Corley spoke about the development on offense. (Down.) The root of the problem all season has been the offense. They don't block well in the running game (with missed assignments in week 5) and they are not trained well (with five false starts in week 4). At least Saleh's defense had players who were among the best at their position. including CB DJ Reedwho did an excellent job locking up Justin Jefferson on Sunday. I was impressed with the Jets' defensive game plan for the Vikings.

Saleh is the first head coach Woody Johnson fired midseason during his 25-year tenure as owner. If the Jets wanted to fire Saleh, they should have done so in the offseason when they had the chance to hire a new coaching staff. Now they will be in limbo and Rodgers will take on an even more significant leadership role.

At 2-3 under Saleh, it didn't look like the Jets would win a Super Bowl. But without Saleh, I'm not sure they'll even make the playoffs.

I suspect the only reason Saleh was fired now was because they clearly intended to do so at the end of the season. So why not go for it and see how many wins the Jets can get to convince Rodgers not to retire? There is no certainty that – after his coup against the Jets – he will remain a Jet. By fast-forwarding to the inevitable, the Jets may be able to end the season on a better note. And maybe Rodgers won't retire.

Johnson has selected three men to provide stability for now: Rodgers, Hackett and Ulbrich.

What could go wrong except…everything?

Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna covered the Patriots for seven years for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.

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