The New York Jets put all of their eggs in Aaron Rodgers’ basket this season. That came back to haunt them just four snaps into Rodgers’ Jets career. The Jets are now 5-9 and Rodgers indicated on Tuesday that he won’t play this season.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh may be on the hot seat after a disappointing season, but he might be locked in at this point with Rodgers in the fold.
NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of the Audacy original podcast “In The Huddle” sounded off on the Jets’ situation with Rodgers having so much control in New York.
“I would’ve fired him last year. Woody Johnson was seriously considering firing him last year and then he got sold this whole master plan for Rodgers and how Hackett’s the key,” La Canfora said (24:15 in player above). “He fell for the okey doke and the problem is now he’s locked in…
“Aaron Rodgers runs that team. He does,” La Canfora continued. “Joe Flacco is not playing an hour down the road from his house with the Jets right now because Aaron Rodgers didn’t want him there.”
Saleh has had a losing season in each of his three years as the Jets head coach. They went 4-13 in 2021, 7-10 last season, and are on pace to take a step back this year at 5-9 through 14 games.
“He’s not a good head coach. There’s no empirical evidence he is a good head coach,” La Canfora said. “He allowed himself to be pushed around by a quarterback who played four snaps for him, and it started before the season started.”
La Canfora noted that Rodgers has been running everything inside the Jets since they traded for him last offseason. That was obvious while watching the Jets in training camp leading up to the season.
“They have let this guy railroad them and run them over before he was even there. There was one team that wanted Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Rodgers controlled the whole situation and went there when he felt like going there,” La Canfora said. “Yeah, he gave some money back, but he’s also got $40 million guaranteed for next year so he’s the GM for next year too. “
Rodgers’ guaranteed money for next season puts the Jets in a bit of a bind if they fire Saleh.
“If you fire Robert Saleh, unless you are really trying to run a complete puppet show, if you have a real head coaching search, what coach is just going to be like yeah, I’ll take the job,” said La Canfora. “I’m stuck with this 40-year-old quarterback and I’m stuck with his bobo hand-picked offensive coordinator. Who’s taking that job?”
That would only put more power in Rodgers’ hands.
“If you fire Robert Saleh you’re empowering Aaron Rodgers even more. Who do you think’s going to pick the head coach? Aaron Rodgers,” La Canfora exclaimed. “How can he not? You’re stuck with Aaron Rodgers and you’re stuck with Nathaniel Hackett. Aaron Rodgers might as well interview the head coaching candidates.”