New York (WFAN/WGR Sports Radio 550) - The New York Jets delivered a stunner on Tuesday morning, firing head coach Robert Saleh after Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London, England.
The Jets were underperforming at 2-3 this season, coming off two-straight losses. In what is one of the most hyped Jets season in recent memory, ownership clearly thought it was time to make a move.
BT and Sal were live on the air as the news broke, and while they both believed Saleh should have been gone already, they were stunned at the timing and abruptness of the news.
"This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets," said team owner Woody Johnson during a conference call with the media on Tuesday. "I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction, and that’s why I did that today."
"This change, the change that we made today — that I made — I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now."
In his 56 games as head coach over parts of four seasons in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Saleh led the Jets to a 20-36 record, with each of the last two seasons seeing New York finish with a 7-10 record and missing out on the playoffs.
Taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season is defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who has been with the Jets since Saleh's hiring back in 2021.
The general reaction to Tuesday's firing of Saleh among league pundits and others on social media was true shock.
"That is stunning. That is the right move," said host Brandon Tierney, reacting to the firing on WFAN. "I am stunned that Woody Johnson did this… I commend Woody. It doesn’t mean it saves anything, but for Woody Johnson to do this now, I am stunned, but it is absolutely the right move.
"Saleh is a great guy. He’s an awful head coach, and the Jets had to do this."
While co-host Sal Licata believes Saleh should have been fired already, he believes the timing of it only plays into the narrative that the Jets are an organizational mess that can’t get it right.
"The Jets just can’t help themselves here. They should have realized he wasn’t the guy after last season," Licata exclaimed on WFAN.
"If they just did it after last year, it would have been easier for everybody involved. … Now you’re doing it five games in. That’s an embarrassment of ridiculous levels."
The Jets will look to get Ulbrich his first win as a head coach in the NFL this coming Monday night with a divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8:15 p.m. ET.