Executives, coaches share opinions on Jets firing Robert Saleh

Shortly after New York Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday with the club at 2-3, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy ripped Johnson for making such a massive change so early into the season. 

For a piece published Wednesday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic shared how "10 executives and coaches from other teams" polled agreed with Dungy and said they felt Johnson made "a rash decision" after only a handful of games. 

"Win on Monday (at home against the 3-2 Buffalo Bills), and you are in first place in the AFC East," one unnamed high-ranking executive said about the Jets. "(The firing) seems premature." 

One assistant coach mentioned that "the pressure was on (Saleh)" with quarterback Aaron Rodgers set to turn 41 years old this coming December and in the lineup coming off the torn Achilles he suffered early into the 2023 regular-season opener. That coach also pointed out that Saleh was dismissed after only "a couple bad games" and after the Jets opened the season at 2-1. 

One could argue that Saleh's Jets would've notched a third straight victory had placekicker Greg Zuerlein made a late field-goal attempt in what became New York's Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos. This past Sunday, a bad and avoidable Rodgers interception prevented the Jets from completing a game-winning drive against the Minnesota Vikings. 

One executive suggested the firing of Saleh was related to more than just the team's current record and/or the fact he went 20-36 during his Jets tenure. 

"Either something was happening behind the scenes, or (it was) just a move to make a move and hoping something changes," that executive said. 

Many, if not most, outsiders have assumed Rodgers had Saleh fired amid rumors claiming the two were no longer getting along. Multiple reports have insisted Rodgers wasn't involved in Johnson's decision, and the future Hall of Famer said on Wednesday he resented "any of those accusations because they’re patently false." 

Johnson took a gamble by moving on from Saleh and making defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the club's interim head coach before the halfway point of October arrived. 

If the Jets fall to 2-4 at MetLife Stadium this coming Monday night, executives and coaches from other organizations will likely continue to feel that Johnson made a panic move that, alone, won't save New York's campaign.