Will firing Robert Saleh solve the Jets' problems?

FLORHAM PARK, NJ – In his final press conference as head coach of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh told reporters Monday morning: “I’m not panicking. No one in the building is panicking.”

He was wrong.

Twenty-four hours later, owner Woody Johnson entered the building and told Saleh he was being fired after a 2-3 start to the season – the first head coaching change this season in Johnson's 25 years as owner.

Obvious question: Will this move – stunning and unprecedented – change anything?

Will replacing a defensive-minded coach with a defensive-minded interim (defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich) revitalize a team whose biggest failing is offense?

According to a team source, embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was not fired along with Saleh, but his status remains uncertain. It's possible he will be stripped of his game-calling responsibilities and the job will go to passing game coordinator Todd Downing. That will be Ulbrich's decision. Hackett, of course, is best friends with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who wields considerable influence within the organization.

The decision to fire Saleh was Johnson's, a team source said, and the reason is because he wanted to try something to save the season before it got away from them, like so many others. They haven't made the playoffs in 13 years, the NFL's longest active drought.

“This was not an easy decision, but we are not yet where our expectations should be and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction,” Johnson said in a statement.

Johnson went on to say that Ulbrich and “the coaches on this team can get the most out of our talented team and achieve the goals we set for ourselves this offseason.”

The 77-year-old owner is hoping for a bit of luck like in Las Vegas.

According to Elias Sports, in 2021, the Las Vegas Raiders were the only team in the Super Bowl era to reach the playoffs with a different head coach than the season opener. Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia replaced Jon Gruden after Week 5, but it's important to note that Gruden resigned after emails he wrote reportedly contained racist, misogynistic and anti-gay language.

The last time a team changed coaches and made the playoffs before was the Houston Oilers in 1961.

Essentially, Johnson is trying to make history.

Going into the season, everyone knew what was important: win now or else. It was widely assumed that Saleh, who finished with a record of 20-36, would be given a one-year leash – a year to account for the rapidly closing window to maximize his 40-year-old quarterback.

Essentially, Johnson increased his sense of urgency back in February when he told reporters he was angry about last season's 7-10 finish. He added: “This is it. Now it's time to go. We have to produce this year.”

Then the Jets went out and brought in more win-now players like wide receiver Mike Williams, tackle Tyron Smith and edge rusher Haason Reddick, who refused to report and is still waiting for a new contract. They could add another big name if they manage to trade disgruntled Raiders star Davante Adams, who happens to be good friends with Rodgers.

The Jets should have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL. Johnson thought about the Super Bowl. Then came the loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, an ugly game that rocked the organization and dropped the Jets to 2-2.

The day after the 10-9 loss, Johnson shared his concerns with Saleh, a team source said, causing tension in the building. Looking back, Saleh was training for his job on Sunday in London, where the Jets came from a 17-0 deficit to lose 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings.

Watching his team lose to his former quarterback (Sam Darnold) in London, where Johnson was serving as the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom for the Trump administration, was too much for the owner to bear. So he stepped out of the role and made the coaching change.

Ulbrich, 47, is an optimistic former player who, with the help of Saleh, has made the Jets one of the better defensive teams over the past two or more seasons. Defense is not the problem; As usual, it's the offense that seems dysfunctional even when Rodgers is in charge. For this reason, Ulbrich is probably considering demoting Hackett.

Through five games, the production is virtually identical to the first five games of last season, when Zach Wilson — not Rodgers — was the quarterback. They have the same number of points scored (93) and almost the same yards per game (a small jump from 284 to 287).

The common denominator is Hackett. Under him, the offense is predictable and slow to start, prone to breakdowns in pass defense and lacking creativity in the running game. Breece Hall, one of the most talented running backs in the league, averages just 3.0 yards per rush.

Rodgers, coming off a rare three-interception game, appears out of sync with his receivers and hesitant to throw the ball downfield. Known for his expertise at the line of scrimmage, he sometimes has difficulty diagnosing blitzes, resulting in unblocked rushers and a barrage of body strikes.

Ulbrich has 12 games this season to get Rodgers right, turn the offense into a functioning unit, motivate the team and meet the owner's enormous expectations. If he can do all of this, it will be a season for the ages.