The New York Jets have dismissed head coach Robert Saleh following a lacklustre 2-3 start to the season. The decision came after the team's 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday, leaving Saleh with an overall record of 20-36 since his appointment in 2021.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will take charge for the remainder of the season, beginning with Monday Night Football against the Buffalo Bills. Jets co-owner Woody Johnson said in a statement: 'This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.'
Saleh, who was the first Muslim head coach in NFL history, was hired after a successful stint as defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. While he transformed the Jets' defence, the offence struggled due to poor quarterback play, including the high-profile failure of 2021 draft pick Zach Wilson. Last season, hopes were pinned on veteran Aaron Rodgers, but he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in his first game.
Rodgers returned for 2024 but, at 40, has not recaptured his prime form, and rumours of tension with Saleh surfaced. Despite the team's mediocre start, they are only one game behind the Bills in the AFC East, and Sunday's loss came against the unbeaten Vikings. Some analysts have questioned the timing of the firing, noting the Jets remain in playoff contention.
The Jets have not reached the playoffs since 2010, and owner Woody Johnson now faces the task of finding a successor. Saleh, who wore a Lebanese flag on his sleeve during Sunday's game amid Israeli airstrikes, leaves a mixed legacy in New York.
