Was Saleh really the problem?
The New York Jets, standing at 2-3 after five games, could have viewed their position with optimism.
In Week 4, they narrowly lost 10-9 to the Denver Broncos after missing a potential game-winning field goal in the final quarter. The following week against the Minnesota Vikings, the Jets were driving for a chance at victory until Aaron Rodgers threw his third interception of the game, sealing a 23-17 loss.
For the hopeful, New York’s sub-.500 record still held promise. Their last two losses were by a combined seven points, only a field goal away from a 3-2 record or a single better throw from a surprising 4-1. Despite being 2-3, they were just one game behind the Buffalo Bills in the race for the AFC East lead.
Instead, the Jets made the choice to fire head coach Robert Saleh after the loss to the Vikings—a drastic, glass-half-empty decision for a team under huge expectations. But the move hasn’t turned things around.
Since letting Saleh go, the Jets have gone 1-4 in the five games that followed. Their season hit rock bottom in Week 10 when the Arizona Cardinals handed them a crushing 31-6 defeat, dominating in all phases of the game.
Once a defensive powerhouse, with the Jets ranking in the top five for over two seasons, their defense now appears far from elite without Saleh. In the first five weeks of the 2024 season, the Jets allowed an average of just 17 points and 256 yards per game, also forcing six turnovers.
However, with Ulbrich doubling as defensive coordinator and interim coach, the defensive stats have plummeted. The Jets are now giving up almost 26 points and 350 yards per game, with only one turnover in the last five games.
Tackling has also become a significant issue. Against the Cardinals, the Jets missed 20 tackles—the highest by any team in a single game this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
The struggles don’t stop with the defense; the Jets’ offense ranks among the league’s worst. They’re currently 26th in both total yards (298.5) and points per game (17.7).
Rodgers, at 40, has struggled to regain his former MVP form, battling accuracy issues and limited mobility after his Achilles tear. A week after Saleh’s dismissal, the Jets traded for Davante Adams, hoping he’d provide a spark.
Ulbrich also shuffled offensive roles, replacing Nathaniel Hackett with passing-game coordinator Todd Downing. But the results remain disappointing.
Adams, despite his brief time with the team, has already voiced frustration with the team’s lack of energy, calling it out after losses to both the Steelers and the Cardinals.
While it’s hard to argue that firing Saleh was a misstep given the team’s previous struggles, the aftermath has highlighted issues that extend beyond just coaching.
Robert Saleh had his share of challenges during his three-plus seasons, finishing with a 20-36 record and missing the playoffs each year. But firing him cost the Jets a steady leader, a figure they now sorely miss in the locker room and on the field.
Last offseason, the Jets committed fully to a championship run. Alongside Adams, they also added left tackle Tyron Smith and right tackle Morgan Moses, hoping these moves would elevate their offense.
Now, with just seven games remaining, the Jets face an uphill battle to make the playoffs—a feat they haven’t achieved since 2010. Following Sunday’s loss, Rodgers told reporters, “There is a lot still in front of us.”
While Rodgers may believe that, it seems more likely that the Jets will be looking at a top 10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft than a postseason spot.
“There’s always going to be some type of negativity,” Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood said. “And as a man, you have to find the good within all the bad.
“It’s going to be about still being the leader, still trying to bring positivity to everybody in the room, everybody in the building. As long as you have that mindset to go out there and do your best and, you know, try to turn things around, you know, again, you never know what can happen.”
Read More: Jets’ Coach Robert Saleh fired: Owner Woody Johnson explains what got the NFL Coach fired
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