What About Bob?
It's tough to be fired after a trip to London. The weather stinks, the food is lousy, and you just renewed your passport only to have your football team put up a stinker against the undefeated Vikings.
But according to ESPN sources, that’s exactly what happened this morning to Jets Head Coach Robert Saleh, who was 20-36 during his 3 ¼-year stint as head coach. During that time, the Jets’ offense went through six starting quarterbacks and made zero playoff appearances. In their first five games of this season, they’ve scored the same number of points as they had last year through five games, when they ranked as one of the worst offenses in the league.
Make no mistake, Robert Saleh was going to be fired this year. But after just five games, it’s a bit surprising. This is the first time in 25 years that owner Woody Johnson has made an in-season coaching change. It’s also only the second time in NFL history that a coach has been fired five games into the season. In a statement, Johnson thanked Saleh for his time as head coach and wished him the best, citing the team's underperformance as the motivation for the change. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named interim head coach. The Jets will host the Buffalo Bills next week on Monday Night Football.
Saleh and star quarterback Aaron Rodgers appeared to be at odds throughout the season, both in their body language on the sidelines and in their statements during press conferences. Saleh will likely find work again as a defensive coordinator, where he’s had success in the past. In the meantime, he can enjoy no longer being the head of a losing NFL franchise. And who knows? Maybe he’ll make the most out of that brand-new passport.