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Aaron Rodgers couldn't fire himself. And certainly the New York Jets' struggling quarterback doesn't have the courage to push aside Nathaniel Hackett, his coordinator buddy.

But Robert Saleh? Roadkill.

The Jets pulled off an October surprise on Tuesday when they fired Saleh as coach, just five games into his fourth season. Sure, Saleh's 20-36 record isn't the ideal defensive measure (pun intended) of his viability as a coach.

But this smacks of desperation. And in one way or another, it goes back to the quarterback the Jets were hoping to get them back to the promised land of the NFL.

Of course, Saleh was officially pulled the plug by team owner Woody Johnson, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, who was undoubtedly embarrassed by the Jets' most recent performance on Sunday in London, a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Johnson stated during a media conference: “I feel like we had to go in a different direction. Changes will bring new energy and positivity.”

Johnson claimed that while he spoke with Rodgers on Monday night, they did not specifically talk about Saleh. He claimed he also spoke with GM Joe Douglas and it was ultimately his decision. Maybe yes.

However, I suspect that Johnson – who has never fired a coach in his 25-year tenure as owner – will not make the move if Rodgers doesn't agree with the dramatic change. After all, the Jets have been subject to some strict A-Rod rules for some time now. I suspect that also explains why Hackett, whose unit ranks 27th in the NFL in total yards, still has a job while Saleh was shown the door.

Hackett, whose tenure as Denver Broncos coach in 2022 was a short-lived disaster, got a chance to revive his career by reuniting with Rodgers, with whom he worked in Green Bay. And look what happened. The plan backfired. But since Rodgers has Johnson's ear, you can bet he didn't literally stick up for Saleh.

What a mess. Saleh, whose specialty is defense, leaves behind a championship-caliber defensive unit that ranks second in the NFL. With the promotion of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to interim coach, the talented defense should continue to roll.

No, defense wasn't the Jets' problem and won't be next year when Johnson recruits Bill Belichick as his next coach.

However, Saleh is apparently paying the price for not winning big after being granted the, well, privilege of having a Hall of Fame-recognized quarterback. The Jets gave him Rodgers and his hand-picked coordinator, a new O-line coach, and this year they added an elite pass rusher in Haason Reddick – at least in theory, because the edge rusher remains a holdout – and they are still getting the same lousy results.

Given the huge investment in Rodgers and the fact that Saleh isn't in a position to win big with him, what's the point of being undefeated? – it goes back to the quarterback in one way or another. Despite the ugly performance in London, it makes no sense to take this step now. Perhaps that awkward body language and icy stare Rodgers gave Saleh during the win against the New England Patriots was actually a signal of strain between coach and quarterback. Especially when Johnson talks about “positive energy.”

In any case, the jets will malfunction again. The offense is a mess, so they maintain the status quo. Hardly logical. Rodgers, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ruined his debut season in 2023, did not resemble the four-time MVP the team was hoping for when it acquired him in a deal with the Green Bay Packers. Instead, the 40-year-old shows significant rust. The rhythm that had defined his playing for so long was interrupted. On Sunday he threw three picks and came up empty at the last minute.

It's not just Rodgers. The Jets rank last in the league with 402 rushing yards, an average of a paltry 3.6 per carry. The O-Line did not pave the way to daylight in the trenches or provide a permanent fortress to protect against pass barriers.

Things need to be repaired. And I suspect it's not Rodgers' rhythm. Trading for disgruntled Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams would help, but they still need to block and run the ball.

Why fire Saleh now? Why not let it play this season? At 2-3, the Jets and their elite defense are at least in a position to believe they have a real chance of dethroning the Buffalo Bills as rulers of the AFC East. If they catch fire, they could even become the serious Super Bowl contenders team owner Johnson envisioned because, well, defense wins championships – especially when complemented by a good quarterback.

By firing Saleh, Johnson was completely out of character. He's definitely had plenty of practice. Look at how he moved: In 2020, Johnson had Adam Gase finish a 2-14 season. In 2018, he didn't get rid of Todd Bowles until after the 4-12 season. The same goes for Rex Ryan in 2014, a 4-12 finish. Herm Edwards also finished 2-14 in 2005.

But now Johnson has taken a different path with the decision to relieve Saleh in the middle of the season.

Perhaps the Hackett-backed franchise quarterback will spark the rebound the Jets probably thought would have happened by now. Jets fans, who have suffered through one broken promise after another for decades, know better than to hold their breath. There is a greater chance that hopes ultimately rest on a new HC for the NYJ.

On By John Fenwick

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