Good Morning Soccer‘s Peter Schrager reported that Saleh arrived at work Tuesday morning prepared to organize for Monday’s pivotal prime-time sport in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, however was known as into a gathering with Woody Johnson and Jets vice chairman Christopher Johnson throughout which he realized his destiny.
Woody Johnson later advised reporters throughout a Tuesday afternoon convention name that the choice to fireside Saleh was made partially as a result of he needed to provide “probably the most gifted groups each assembled” by the Jets probably the most alternative to win this season.
“I have been doing this for 25 years now, that is most likely the perfect group I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson mentioned. “I simply felt that the easiest way to go ahead was a brand new route. Taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I assumed that may get probably the most out of this group and provides us the perfect likelihood that all of us wish to have, which goes to the playoffs.”
Protection wasn’t the difficulty underneath Saleh, as Gang Inexperienced completed within the high 5 in yards allowed and high 12 in factors in every of the previous two seasons. Via 5 weeks in 2024, New York’s D ranked second in yards allowed and fifth in factors given up. Nevertheless, the Jets might by no means work out the offense, rating within the backside quarter of the NFL in yards and scoring in every of his 4 seasons. The shortcoming to assist develop quarterback Zach Wilson counted in opposition to Saleh’s scorecard. New York cycled by means of six QBs within the coach’s three-plus seasons on the helm.
Aaron Rodgers’ acquisition in 2023 was supposed to vary issues for New York. Nevertheless, a Week 1 Achilles tear wiped away that plan in Yr 1. Saleh bungled the transition with Wilson, biking by means of quarterbacks final season. Via 5 video games this season, the offense nonetheless struggled underneath offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Rodgers, as Gang Inexperienced has averaged 18.6 factors per sport and barely discovered any consistency in an outdated scheme.
“How can we enhance the offense? I believe one of many causes that I made a decision to make a training change on the highest degree right here is precisely that,” Johnson mentioned on Tuesday. “We have to discover methods to win, and we’re not going to seek out these methods by doing the identical factor again and again. I believe that [Ulbrich] goes so as to add one thing. He’ll add a spark of positivity and all that that goes with any person, and the belief that gamers have in any person that is been by means of it, and that they know and so they respect and that they know that is reciprocal. These modifications that we have now to make on offense, we’ll make. We will make them on offense and we’ll make them on protection. We will attempt to get higher. It is a new alternative for all of us. In order that’s why I made a decision to do this right now.”
Whereas Saleh and Rodgers mentioned the suitable issues, the connection by no means appeared settled. An odd disagreement in regards to the quarterback’s cadence turning into a storyline in New York final week underscored the seeming disconnect between coach and quarterback. Schrager, nevertheless, was advised Rodgers didn’t have a major function within the determination to fireside Saleh.
Johnson advised reporters that he spoke with Rodgers on Monday evening, however that the 2 didn’t focus on Saleh’s standing.
The much-maligned Hackett presently stays on the group’s teaching workers, and Johnson was requested to evaluate the Jets’ points on offense and Hackett’s efficiency in New York.
“We will make modifications wherever modifications are due,” Johnson mentioned, declining to particularly point out Hackett in his response. “We all know the place we’re weak and the place we’re sturdy, and so do you. You’ll be able to see it each week. We’re going to make the modifications that allow us to provide these fabulous gamers on each side of the ball the prospect to win. We all know that we have now to make some enhancements and modifications right here. … Offense actually has been a problem — greater than a problem. And I believe it is one thing that I am positive (Ulbrich) can be specializing in.”
Throughout his introductory convention name as interim coach on Tuesday, Ulbrich mentioned there can be no modifications in titles among the many offensive workers however they are going to take a “deep dive” into every thing.
Sitting at 2-3 in a struggling AFC East, there may be nonetheless time for the Jets to show issues round. Saleh merely will not be the person flying the aircraft.
Ulbrich performed 10 seasons within the NFL and is a extremely revered assistant. The 47-year-old joined Saleh’s workers as DC in 2021. Ulbrich labored as a head coach this offseason on the Senior Bowl. Now he will get an opportunity to do the actual factor and attempt to save the Jets season.
Tuesday marked the primary time in Johnson’s 25 years of possession that he has fired a coach mid-season.
“It is a new day for the group,” Johnson mentioned. “It is a new day that is welcome. Because the group realizes what alternative that is for them, I believe they will go to a degree that we’ve not seen some time.”