Why Robert Saleh believes Jets will benefit from tough 2023 season

It's hardly a secret that the 2023 season didn't go as individuals within the New York Jets planned for numerous reasons. 

Jets head coach Robert Saleh made it known on Tuesday he thinks his club has improved from where it was last summer in part because of the difficulties it faced over the past 14 months or so. 

"To grow in the world, to grow as an individual, you got to live in uncomfortable environments," Saleh explained, as shared by Eric Allen of the Jets' website. "And I would say last year was one of the more uncomfortable environments that you could create for an organization, and because of it, I think of players, coaches, everybody in this building are better for it and because of it. I think the team is better for it and better equipped." 

The Jets officially acquired star quarterback Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers in April 2023 and were then saddled with an HBO "Hard Knocks" assignment Saleh and others associated with the franchise could've done without. 

Rodgers then suffered a campaign-ending torn Achilles four offensive snaps into New York's regular-season opener, and the Jets ultimately ended Week 18 at 7-10 after they entered November at 4-3. 

This summer, Saleh ran a "much harder" training camp to the apparent delight of Rodgers and other veteran players. By all accounts, Rodgers largely looked like his old self throughout summer practices as he prepared for the Week 1 game at the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.

"As coaches, I think we learned a lot from last year with regards to adjustments and the things that we need to do," Saleh continued on Tuesday. "I've said it before, not fully injury-proof, but a little injury-proof where we can adjust and move things on the fly a little bit better. But yeah, we're definitely all better for what happened last year."

Saleh vowed back in July that this season will be more "fun" for the Jets even as he'll likely find himself coaching for his job after his teams went 18-33 across his first three campaigns with the organization. He indicated on Tuesday he's not facing any extra pressure because "all it takes is one bad year" for a coach to be "shown the door" by a front office or ownership group. 

"You get so used to being in an environment where expectations are what they are, and so that's why it's just so, so important," Saleh added. "And like I said, last year was a great reminder in that, stay focused in the moment, be where your feet are and be a problem solver."

As of late Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Jets as the betting favorites at +165 odds to claim the AFC East division title for the upcoming season. 

Such forecasts serve as a reminder that Saleh likely will be out of a job come January if the 2024 Jets don't end the longest active playoff drought among the four major North American sports leagues.