New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas hired head coach Robert Saleh in 2021 with the hope he could turn the defense around and snap one of the longest NFL playoff droughts. While the Jets have improved markedly and now boast one of the best defenses in the league, they still haven’t made the playoffs in 12 years.
The Jets have the longest active postseason drought in the NFL, and that resulted in part in New York trading for Aaron Rodgers. Jets faithful hope the veteran leadership will provide the Jets’ offense with stability, creating a more well-rounded team that has already ascended up NFL power rankings.
While the organization and fan base is looking forward to the upcoming season, the elevated talent creates higher expectations that may put Douglas and Saleh on the hot seat this fall.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated wrote in his latest mailbag that he could see both Salen and Douglas on the hot seat and potentially fired if the Jets miss the playoffs this season.
“I’d say it’s fair to say so. In many ways, the availability of Aaron Rodgers provided a lifeline for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas. Few would survive taking a quarterback with the No. 2 pick and seeing him crash and burn as spectacularly as Zach Wilson has the past two seasons…If it doesn’t work? Well, then, you’re probably starting over in some areas, including finding a quarterback. Few coaches or GMs get the chance to do that after missing the playoffs in three consecutive years.”
Albert Breer on Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas’ future with the New York Jets
Douglas, hired in 2019, landed a six-year contract when he landed with New York as general manager. The Jets’ 2020 draft class – Mekhi Becton, Denzel Mims, Ashtyn Davis – failed to meet expectations.
Just a few years after drafting Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick and taking Elijah Moore with the 34th selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson is trending toward becoming one of the biggest NFL Draft busts ever and Moore was traded to the Cleveland Browns this spring.
The Jets are heavy favorites to make the playoffs this season and their Super Bowl odds are climbing. If they don’t reach the postseason, though, New York will likely have to make sweeping changes from the front office to the coaching staff and perhaps even at quarterback.
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