NFL Execs Rip Timing of Robert Saleh's Jets Firing: 'Seems a Little Premature'

The New York Jets shocked the football world when they fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday following a 2-3 start to the season, and some around the NFL believe they may have jumped the gun with that decision.

"Five games into his first (true) season with Aaron Rodgers seems a little premature to me," an NFL executive told The Athletic's Jeff Howe of Saleh's firing.

Jets owner Woody Johnson, who made his first in-season coaching change in 25 years of ownership, told reporters Tuesday that the decision to fire Saleh was "my decision and mine alone." Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was promoted to interim head coach as the team prepares for an AFC East showdown against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football with first place in the division on the line.

The first exec wasn't alone in his sentiment, as Howe noted that "none" of the 10 executives and coaches questioned about Tuesday's bombshell "believed Saleh deserved to be fired so quickly, directing the brunt of the blame on Johnson for making a rash decision."

"Win on Monday (at home against the Buffalo Bills), and you are in first place in the AFC East," a high-ranking executive said. "[The firing] seems premature."

"This team is good enough to win the division," another executive said. "But now you're not even focused on Buffalo because the coach was just fired. It just doesn't seem well-thought-out."

New York's last two losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings were disappointing for various reasons, but Johnson could've afforded to give Saleh some grace. The Jets offense is led by a 40-year-old quarterback who is working his way back from a torn Achilles that cost him virtually the entire 2023 season, so early hiccups were to be expected.

There is now even more pressure on players and coaches in New York to prove that Johnson's drastic decision was the right one. If the Jets don't turn things around starting in Monday's game against the Bills, there could be further consequences down the line.

"Now they're all coaching for their lives," an executive said. "And at some point, they're going to be focusing on looking for their next jobs."