New York Jets fire head coach Robert Saleh after disappointing start to the season

CNN
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The New York Jets have fired head coach Robert Saleh, the team announced Tuesday.

The Jets started the 2024 season with two wins and three losses and suffered a 23:17 defeat against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in London.

Saleh compiled a 20-36 regular season record without appearing on the playoff sidelines in more than three seasons. He is the first head coach in the NFL to be fired this season.

“This was not an easy decision, but we are not where our expectations should be and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction,” Jets chairman Woody Johnson said in an explanation.

Saleh, a product of San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's ever-growing coaching staff, was named Jets head coach in 2021 after spending four seasons as the 49ers' defensive coordinator. He was the first Muslim American to lead an NFL team and the third Arab American head coach.

Saleh inherited an unstable situation in New York, with chaos – particularly at the quarterback position – becoming one of the themes of his tenure.

His first season ended with a disappointing 4-13 record, despite Saleh's squad being the youngest in the league. The Jets became just the second team since the AFL-NFL merger to be led by rookies in passing, rushing and receiving yards, according to the team.

The 2022 season saw an increase in performance and the team finished 7-10, with the improvement led by talented rookies Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, who were named Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively.

However, starting quarterback Zach Wilson – who was selected second overall by Gang Green in 2021 – struggled in his first two seasons in the league, alternating time as a starter with several different backup players, including Mike White and Joe Flacco.

Wilson was replaced in 2023 by four-time Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers, who was acquired via trade from the Green Bay Packers. Expectations were high, but Rodgers only tore his left Achilles tendon four times in his first game and spent the entire season on the sidelines.

Wilson was installed as the starter but was benched again as the offense continued to falter. However, the defense regularly thrived under Saleh, finishing fourth and third in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, respectively. The Jets missed the playoffs and again finished with a record of 7-10.

Saleh started the 2024 season on the hot seat and expected a playoff appearance in the Big Apple. However, the Jets have stumbled out of the starting blocks, even as the 40-year-old Rodgers back has recovered from his injury.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will replace Saleh on an interim basis, Johnson confirmed Tuesday.

“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team,” Johnson said. “I believe that, together with the coaches on this team, he can bring out the best in our talented team and achieve the goals we set for ourselves this offseason.”

The Jets next face the (3-2) Buffalo Bills at home on Monday Night Football.