The The New York Jets came out firing Head coach Robert Saleh On Tuesday Amidst the team’s disappointing start to the season and apparent tensions between star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the now-former sideline boss.
The Jets announced that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbricht will serve as the team’s interim head coach after Saleh left Florham Park in New Jersey, where he led the team with an overall record of 20-26 in 3 1/4 seasons.
“This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the head coach of the Jets,” team owner Woody Johnson said. said in a statement.
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“It wasn’t an easy decision, but we weren’t where we needed to deliver on our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to go in a different direction.”
The team entered this 2024 campaign with high hopes and Rodgers returned to the huddle after nearly missing 2023 with a foot injury.
The Jets were swept by the San Francisco 49ers in the season opener. Tennessee Titans And New England Patriots.
But the last two weekends have ended in disappointing losses against the Denver Broncos and the Minnesota Vikings in London.
In addition to the defeat, tension was felt between Rodgers and Salah.
Jets Committed five false start penalties In the Denver loss and Saleh said it could be tied to the tricky cadence Rodgers uses when barking pre-snap signals.
And in a win over New England, Rodgers appeared dBlock Saleh’s tackle after a touchdown.
At the time of his appointment, Saleh What cwas celebrated as First Muslim A head coach of an NFL team. He was kicked out of team headquarters by the team’s director of defense. NBC Sports reported.
“We applaud coach Robert Saleh for making history as the first Muslim-American head coach in NFL history,” the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, said in a statement Tuesday.
“While no one should draw conclusions about why the Jets fired coach Saleh, the report that a Jets safety physically escorted Saleh out of the building raises concerns about a possible motive for such unusual hostility.”
U.S. Rep. Jamal Bowman, D-N.Y., called Saleh’s firing a “raw deal” and pinned the team’s bad luck on offensive coordinator Rodgers. Nathaniel Hackett, Front office And Former QB Zach Wilson.
“Robert Salle got a raw deal and Aaron Rodgers undermined him every step of the way,” Bowman said. Published in X. It’s been downhill since the @nyjets drafted Zach Wilson. Nathaniel Hackett is trash. Salah kept the defense well in difficult times. Source Agreement.”
A lame duck lawmaker wondered aloud Had Saleh embraced his Lebanese heritage, this decision may have played a role.
Although Saleh has previously worn the Lebanese flag on his game gear, the fashion accessory drew new eyes on Sunday in the wake of Israel’s continued attacks on its northern neighbor.
Saleh, 45, joined the Jets after a successful four-season run 49ers defensive coordinator.
“We are very proud of Robert and his accomplishments in his young life,” Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Group, said in a statement.
“As the first Muslim Arab-American NFL head coach, he has paved the way for future talent in our community. We have no doubt that New York will not be the last stop on his coaching and football journey. The community will always be there, cheering for his continued success and growth.”
Salah is the third coach to be sacked in the past decade after his side lost in London.
Oakland Raiders He fired Dennis Allen in 2014Following an 0-4 start and loss to the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.
Miami waived Joe Philbin After his 1-3 Dolphins 2015 loss to the Jets at Wembley.
Rohan Nadkarni Contributed.
