After a tough loss to the current 5-0 Minnesota Vikings in London, the New York Jets fired its head coach, Robert Saleh, on Oct 11.
Jets owner, UK Ambassador Woody Johnson, decided to tell Saleh upon his arrival to the Jets facility that morning. Current general manager, Joe Douglas and players were caught by surprise by Johnson’s decision. The new current intern head coach for the remainder of the season is defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
“This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets. I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season,” Johnson said when asked about the decision to fire Saleh.
“At the end of the day, this was my decision and my decision alone,” he said when asked if he consulted with Douglas regarding his decision.
Out of the 56 games he had coached, his record was 20 wins and 36 loses.
Ulbrich had been the defensive coordinator for the last three and a half years. He was also the head coach of the National Team during the 2024 Senior Bowl. He is a very well-respected coach in the locker room and facility,” Johnson said in a statement on X about his decision.
Saleh was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons, 2017-2020.
In 2017, he inherited the worst defense statistically from the previous season. The 49ers were ranked 32 in total yards and rushing yards, 14 in passing yards, 29 in third down, 27 in red zone and 32 in points.
In defensive rankings it was second in total yards, 17 in rushing yards, first in passing yards, tied for second on third downs, 22 in red zone and eighth in points according to the New York Jets website.
In 2020, the rankings had also shifted with the most noticeable one being their run defense which was ranked seventh, which is 10 rankings higher than the previous season.
It was looking for a new head coach during the 2021 season after firing its former head coach, Adam Gase, after a two and 14 during the 2020 season.
One of the coaches the Jets interviewed was Saleh. He signed a five-year contract as a head coach leaving the 49ers after four years.
With the firing of coach Saleh, they are looking for a new spark as they prepare for their Monday Night match up against division rival, the Buffalo Bills. Fans wait to see if l Coach Ulbrich will get his first victory as a head coach in the NFL.
