Broncos loss was Woody Johnson’s Robert Saleh breaking level

The Robert Saleh period with the Jets got here to a fast, beautiful finish Tuesday morning. 

Proprietor Woody Johnson fired Saleh, who was 5 video games into his fourth yr as head coach, simply earlier than 10 a.m. two days after the Jets misplaced 23-17 to the Vikings in London, their second straight disappointing loss.

The Jets named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich because the interim head coach. 

The transfer was stunning due to its timing.

The Jets are 2-3 and did have encouraging wins towards the Titans and Patriots this season.

However Saleh, who had one yr remaining on his contract, couldn’t overcome a 20-36 general report and the sensation from Johnson that he was not fixing what was improper with the Jets, who entered this season with Tremendous Bowl aspirations. 

“Once I check out this crew, I’ve been doing this for 25 years now, and that is most likely one of the best crew I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson stated in a Tuesday afternoon convention name with reporters. “And I simply felt that the easiest way to go ahead was a brand new route. I assumed that might get essentially the most out of this crew and provides us one of the best likelihood that all of us need to have, which goes to the playoffs.” 

That is the primary time Johnson has made a midseason teaching change as proprietor.

The 77-year-old Johnson was fuming after the Jets’ 10-9 loss to the Broncos final week, in accordance with sources.

He wished Saleh to make radical modifications.

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Saleh as a substitute preached persistence, however Johnson was out of that. 

Then, the Jets flopped in London, the place Johnson served because the U.S. Ambassador to the UK below former President Donald Trump from 2017-21.

Johnson had an extended flight residence to consider the way forward for the crew and determined Tuesday morning to fireplace Saleh. 

Saleh confirmed up for work able to sport plan for the Payments, the Jets’ opponent on Monday evening.

Shortly earlier than 10 a.m., Johnson and his brother Christopher walked into Saleh’s workplace and delivered the information. Saleh wished to say goodbye to the crew, however was not given the prospect.

He was requested to go away the constructing. 

Johnson stated this resolution was not made primarily based on the final two losses, however somewhat Saleh’s physique of labor. 

“It’s not simply the final two video games that has precipitated this resolution. It’s an extended time-frame,” Johnson stated. “I’ve had a pair years to consider this. And yeah, I simply suppose we will do higher. The crew can do higher. Because the crew realizes what a possibility that is for them, I believe they’re going to go to a stage that we haven’t seen shortly.” 

Johnson introduced Saleh again after a second consecutive 7-10 season final yr with the understanding that he can be out if the crew faltered this yr.

Saleh anticipated to get a full season to make a playoff push with Aaron Rodgers, although, and solely acquired 5 video games. 

Sources stated Johnson had grown bored with seeing the identical issues with the crew that had plagued it the previous couple of years — gradual begins, a excessive variety of penalties and sloppy offensive play.

The Jets anticipated issues to alter with Rodgers at quarterback, however they nonetheless are shedding with the identical method of a protection holding down an opponent after which offensive errors costing them video games. 

The Jets didn’t fireplace offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, however sources stated Saleh was making ready to take play-calling duties from him and provides them to Todd Downing, the crew’s passing sport coordinator and quarterbacks coach, earlier than he was fired.

Ulbrich stated he’ll do a “deep dive” into the offensive struggles and indicated he’ll take into account having a brand new play caller.

He did say he doesn’t anticipate making any employees modifications. 

“I believe one of many causes I made a decision to make a training change is precisely that: We have to discover methods to win,” Johnson stated. “And so we’re not going to search out these methods by doing the identical factor time and again and over. I believe that Jeff goes so as to add one thing. He’s going so as to add a spark of positivity. These modifications that now we have to make on offense, we’ll make. We’re going to attempt to get higher. This can be a new alternative for all of us.” 

Johnson stated he did converse to Rodgers on Monday evening, however they didn’t focus on Saleh’s future.

There was no indication from any sources that Rodgers was concerned within the resolution.

Gamers privately expressed shock on the resolution to fireplace Saleh. He was fashionable within the locker room and the gamers have been nonetheless taking part in exhausting for him. 

Johnson stated he did seek the advice of common supervisor Joe Douglas however Johnson emphasised this was his resolution alone. That is the primary in-season teaching change for the Jets since 1976, when Lou Holtz stop with one sport left. 

“I’ve had sufficient expertise doing this stuff,” Johnson stated. “It’s the primary time I’ve finished it this early. I assumed and suppose that it will assist this proficient crew obtain the targets that the crew desires and I need and the followers need.”