Jets veteran opens up about players backing HC Robert Saleh

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reportedly has flashed somewhat of a different personality heading into what likely will be a make-or-break season regarding his tenure with the organization.

During a Tuesday afternoon appearance on New York sports radio station WFAN, veteran Jets offensive tackle Morgan Moses indicated he and his teammates will be playing to save Saleh's job this coming fall.

"First of all, it starts with the head coach," Moses said about the team backing Saleh, as shared by Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "'Coach S,' guys will run through a wall for him. There's not many head coaches out here where guys can say like, 'Dude, I will die on the field for this dude.' You know what I'm saying?"

Saleh accumulated a woeful 18-33 record across his first three seasons with the Jets and was a key figure named in The Athletic report from this past January that detailed "flaws within the coaching staff, offensive personnel and the team’s culture" that impacted Gang Green after starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a campaign-ending torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the club's Week 1 game last September.

While the Jets are responsible for the longest active playoff drought among the four major North American sports leagues, team owner Woody Johnson gave both Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas a final chance to right the ship largely because they have Rodgers' support. 

Saleh promised in late July the upcoming Jets season "is gonna be fun" for players and fans. Meanwhile, players such as pass-rusher Jermaine Johnson II have made it known he and others inside the locker room have embraced a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality.

Moses somewhat touched upon that mindset while discussing the roster rallying behind Saleh this summer.

"It's a wonderful thing, man," Moses explained. "This team is built for success, and we can sit here and play the paper champ all we want. It's our job as veterans to get everybody on the same page and go out there and do it."

If the Jets again prove to be little more than a paper champion, Moses' words probably won't be enough to keep Saleh employed beyond the NFL's "Black Monday" in January 2025.