When the Jets stumbled through a frustrating loss to the Vikings in London on Sunday, I thought they might attempt to reset their season by trading for wide receiver Davante Adams and reigniting their offseason optimism. I didn’t anticipate just how desperate they were. On Tuesday, in a surprising move, Jets ownership fired head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start, promoting defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim head coach. At this point, even Fireman Ed should be feeling uneasy.
The timing is perplexing. Though disappointing, the Jets are still 2-3 and would lead the AFC East if they beat the Bills on Monday night. Firing a coach with a .400 or better winning percentage this early in the season for on-field reasons hasn’t happened since 1961, when the Boston Patriots dismissed Lou Holtz after a similar 2-3 start. (Jon Gruden resigned in 2021 after a 3-2 start due to revelations about offensive emails he wrote over the years.)
The Jets’ defense, under Ulbrich’s guidance, has been their strong point, ranking fifth in the NFL in expected points added (EPA) per play. Saleh’s background, particularly his success with San Francisco’s defense from 2017-2020, highlights his value as part of the defensive braintrust. Dismissing a defensive-minded coach while the offense continues to struggle makes this decision even more puzzling.
This brings Aaron Rodgers into the conversation. Since acquiring the veteran quarterback in spring 2023, the Jets have reshaped their team around him. They hired Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator and signed Rodgers’ preferred targets Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Tim Boyle. Now, just a week after Saleh questioned whether the team was ready for Rodgers’ cadence and Rodgers called for accountability among players, Saleh seems to be the one held accountable.
The Jets’ offense ranks 22nd in EPA per play and has produced more turnovers (four) than touchdowns (two) in the past two weeks. But is Saleh really the issue? Will firing him fix the Jets’ problems? Let’s explore Tuesday’s shocking decision and what it might mean for their season moving forward.
Will firing Saleh fix the Jets’ problems?
Unlikely, for several reasons. As I noted earlier, Hackett’s offense has been stagnant and uninspired over five games. The Jets rank near the bottom of the league in play-action and pre-snap motion usage, an approach that aligns with Rodgers’ known preferences. The offense has struggled to handle pass protection, with defensive schemes repeatedly exposing their weaknesses, as seen in their Week 4 loss to the Broncos and the Vikings’ defensive pressure in Week 5.
Is Saleh responsible for these issues? Not really. As a defensive-minded head coach, Saleh isn’t expected to manage offensive schemes, adjust pass protections, or make week-to-week offensive changes. An offensive-minded coach might take on those responsibilities, but Saleh’s expertise is on defense. Firing him won’t address the structural issues with the Jets’ offense.
Rodgers’ influence is clear in how the offense is constructed, from its style to its play-calling. The Jets haven’t adapted to fix their weaknesses, likely because it would conflict with Rodgers’ preferences.
Isn’t Saleh, as head coach, responsible for the offense?
Technically, yes, but the real question is: Who’s in control? It’s reasonable to critique a head coach for hiring a poor offensive coordinator, but in Saleh’s case, the situation is more complicated. When the Jets hired Hackett in January 2023, it wasn’t because Saleh wanted to snap up a coordinator fresh off one of the worst head-coaching seasons in history. It was clearly part of the organization’s effort to attract Rodgers.
Typically, teams fire coordinators before making head-coaching changes, especially this early in the season. Ulbrich has done excellent work with the defense, so he was safe. Ordinarily, a team with championship aspirations would alter its offensive infrastructure, such as changing play-callers or firing the offensive coordinator. With an offensive-minded head coach, these adjustments would happen first before considering a more drastic head-coaching change.