The New York Jets have parted ways with head coach Robert Saleh after four seasons, following their 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. The firing comes as a surprise to many, especially after the team’s rocky 2-3 start, which some expected to fall on Saleh’s shoulders. The struggles, however, haven’t been helped by quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ return from a ruptured Achilles, as the 39-year-old star has struggled to find his rhythm.
Jeff Saturday, speaking on First Take this morning, expressed disbelief over Saleh’s firing just five games into the season with Rodgers under center.
“I say five games,” Saturday told Stephen A. Smith. “He’s had five games with a top NFL quarterback who’s coming off an Achilles tear. Aaron Rodgers didn’t play all last year, and now, after just five games this season where Rodgers hasn’t looked like himself in two of them, they’re going to fire Saleh? It’s just crazy.”
Saleh, known for his defensive expertise, had never been expected to turn the offense around, but his consistency showed in the Jets’ defensive stats over the years. Still, with Rodgers’ high expectations and subpar performance, the focus turned to the head coach.
Since the 2021 season, Robert Saleh’s first in New York, the Jets defense is
1st in points per drive
1st in EPA per play
3rd in success rate…despite playing the fourth-most snaps over that stretch.
Saleh never solved the QB problem, but man. He delivered on defense.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 8, 2024
Fans on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) are speculating that Rodgers had a hand in Saleh’s dismissal. Rodgers played in only one preseason game this year, and his performance has been shaky since returning. Jeff Saturday broke down the quarterback’s numbers to highlight the problem.
“Rodgers has been blitzed 42 times, and his QBR is just 15. When facing six or more rushers, his QBR drops to 5. That’s the real issue. The defense has given the team chances to win in back-to-back weeks, but the offense has stalled.”
Quarterback rating (QBR) measures a player’s efficiency throughout a game, and Rodgers’ low numbers have kept the offense stagnant. Now, the question remains: was Saleh truly the problem, or is there more to the Jets’ struggles?
Rodgers is scheduled to appear on ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show later today, where fans are eager to hear his take on Saleh’s firing.
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