Robert Saleh Shares Farewell Message to Jets, Says He's 'Grateful' Despite Firing

Robert Saleh has shared his first public comments since being fired as head coach of the New York Jets on Tuesday.

In a statement provided to the media, Saleh said he was "grateful" to the Jets for the opportunity and appreciated the efforts of the players and coaching staff over the past four seasons.

The Jets fired Saleh two days after a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is taking over for Saleh as interim head coach.

While the timing of Saleh's firing seemed to catch many outside observers off guard, owner Woody Johnson said during his press conference on Tuesday he's "had a couple years to think about this."

One could argue if the leash was going to be this short for Saleh, Johnson would have been better off making the move at the end of last season.

By making the move just five games into this season, everybody comes out of it looking bad. Saleh was already under a spotlight coaching a New York team and it got even brighter because of the increased pressure that comes with having Aaron Rodgers quarterbacking the team.

Johnson looks incompetent because he could have conducted a full search during the offseason to find a new full-time coach who might have been able to find a way to maximize the talent on this roster in ways that Saleh didn't.

The Jets entire organizational operation comes off as being dysfunctional.

Despite all that is happening off the field, the Jets are a win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in Week 6 from being in first place in the AFC East.

Saleh's tenure as Jets head coach will be viewed as a disappointment. He finished with a 20-36 record in 56 games and no playoff appearances, but there were plenty of areas in which he made a positive impact.

Coming from a defensive background prior to being hired by the Jets, Saleh took a team that ranked last in points allowed per game in his first season to being fourth in that category in 2022 and 12th in 2023.

For all of the problems on offense the Jets have had in five games this season, the defense has allowed the fifth-fewest points per game. Being a head coach means you oversee everything, so the offensive issues do come down on him.

But there is no indication from how the Jets have performed that Saleh won't at least find his way back on the sideline with another team as a defensive coordinator at some point.