Jets owner: Draw to fireplace Saleh ‘mine alone’

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Upset by the employees’s 2-3 open, Jets owner Woody Johnson made a shimmering and unheard of switch Tuesday morning, firing coach Robert Saleh and naming defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the intervening time head coach.

Johnson, with his first in-season instructing change in 25 years of ownership, stated he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas, nonetheless he called it “my decision and mine alone.” Woody Johnson and his brother, Christopher Johnson, the vice president, broke the files to Saleh in his office at the employees facility.

Saleh changed into panicked, sources stated. He changed into escorted to his car by the director of security, a provide confirmed, in what changed into described as protocol.

“Here can also presumably be the finest employees I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson stated on a convention call with reporters. “I dazzling felt that the finest components to glide ahead changed into a original route. Taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the intervening time head coach, I thought that will possibly get doubtlessly the most out of this employees and presents us the finest likelihood that we all wish to like, which goes to the playoffs.”

Saleh, who promised a pair of championships when he changed into employed in 2021, carried out with a 20-36 express and no playoff appearances. The Jets like a 13-yr playoff drought, the longest filled with life drought within the NFL, nonetheless they began the season with Mammoth Bowl expectations, in huge segment thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Jets’ Week 4 loss to the Broncos shook the organization. The next day, the Johnsons and employees president Hymie Elhai expressed their issues to Saleh in a meeting, in step with a pair of sources. In a sense, Saleh changed into instructing for his job on Sunday in London, where the Jets dropped their 2nd straight game — a 23-17 loss to the undefeated Vikings.

“It be no longer dazzling the closing two video games that has precipitated this decision; it be a long timeframe,” Johnson stated. “I’ve had a pair years to like in mind this, and, yeah, I dazzling mediate we are able to put greater. The employees can put greater as we like this original leadership.”

Ulbrich, in a midafternoon video convention with reporters, described the change as “four hours of craziness.” He addressed the total employees Tuesday, announcing his message to the players changed into, “It be time to lock fingers.”

He has some sizable choices to variety within the subsequent 24 hours as the Jets open up preparations for Monday evening in opposition to the Bills. The good one entails embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who will likely be stripped of his playcalling obligations. Ulbrich changed into noncommittal, though he did train he would seek recommendation from Rodgers.

“I put no longer look changes in, necessarily, titles and positions,” Ulbrich stated. “As far as tasks and the components itself, we’re going to take an awesome study that.”

That entails whether or no longer Ulbrich will relinquish his defensive playcalling to but any other coach on employees.

The struggles on offense, in explicit, like pained Johnson. Sources stated he pressured Saleh to replace offensive coordinators after the 2022 season, changing Mike LaFleur with Hackett. The Jets traded for Rodgers, who, after missing practically the total 2023 season with a torn Achilles, has did now not elevate the unit this season.

Addressing the offense, Johnson stated, “I mediate one among the explanations that I made up my mind to variety a practising change at the best stage is precisely that. We like to search out ways to build up, and so we’re no longer going to search out these ways by doing the the same thing all as soon as more and all as soon as more and over.”

Below Saleh, the Jets began six quarterbacks — Zach Wilson (33 video games), Mike White (7), Rodgers (6), Joe Flacco (5), Trevor Siemian (3) and Tim Boyle (2).

“We have got been underperforming for whatever the motive, and we’re going to take an awesome study all of it,” Ulbrich stated, talking of the total employees.

“I in actuality instruct, we lock fingers, we commit to the components that we put apart in do, and we are able to like success. We can,” Ulbrich added.

No topic the Sept. 30 meeting with Saleh and employees brass, there changed into a sense within the organization that Johnson would wait a few weeks sooner than making any necessary changes if the shedding persevered. On Monday, Saleh expressed self belief that they’d get it turned spherical, telling reporters, “I am no longer insecure. No one within the building is insecure.”

Silent, there had been indicators of locker room grumbling after the loss in London.

“I will likely be dazzling, of us lose interest with listening to the the same s—,” linebacker Quincy Williams educated SNY. “Folks like to take accountability from the head to the backside. That’s all I in actuality like to tell … of us like to open taking accountability. I am tired of announcing the the same thing every week.”

Johnson stated Rodgers had no input into the instructing change. He stated he spoke to Rodgers after Sunday’s game, claiming Saleh’s tell or a doable switch wasn’t discussed. There had been hypothesis of a rift between Saleh and Rodgers, dating to Saleh’s decision to ravishing the four-time MVP for taking a glide back and forth to Egypt throughout the mandatory minicamp. Publicly, each and each males denied any friction in their relationship.

No topic the 2-game shedding meander, the Jets are fully one game out of first do within the AFC East. Their game in opposition to the Bills (3-2) is for a allotment of the division lead.

Ulbrich, 47, a faded longtime 49ers linebacker, changed into employed by Saleh as the defensive coordinator in 2021. Below Ulbrich and Saleh, the Jets like emerged as a perennial high-five protection. Ulbrich, a Pete Carroll disciple identified for his vitality and upbeat personality, has no old head-instructing ride.

An October firing is never any longer unheard of within the NFL. In 2022, the Panthers fired Matt Rhule after Week 5. Lane Kiffin changed into fired by the Raiders after Week 4 in 2008. The fully employees in Mammoth Bowl technology to variety the playoffs within the the same season after changing coaches changed into the 2021 Raiders, who promoted Rich Bisaccia to replace Jon Gruden. In that case, Gruden resigned after a express that he susceptible anti-homosexual, misogynistic language susceptible in emails.

Johnson has employed seven stout-term head coaches in his tenure.

“I’ve had ample ride doing these things,” he stated. “It be the necessary time I’ve carried out it this early, nonetheless … I thought — and mediate — that this can also abet the employees, abet this proficient employees put the targets that the employees wants, and that I need, and the followers need.”