NFL
Aaron Rodgers Shaded by NFL Fans for Robert Saleh’s Firing as Jets HC amid Struggles
Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Many fans and analysts took to social media Tuesday to express their belief that quarterback Aaron Rodgers was primarily responsible for the New York Jets’ decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report Saleh’s firing Tuesday, and he later added that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim head coach.
In the wake of Saleh’s termination, there was an influx of posts on X suggesting that Rodgers’ influence is what led to the move:
Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN
Massive Week 6 news. The QB and head coach did not seem to be on the same page. https://t.co/nkVkZ9Gv0C
NFL Memes @NFLHateMemes
Now that Robert Saleh was fired, tell us how you really feel about him
Aaron Rodgers: pic.twitter.com/5JVVuUxJut
Eli Berkovits @BookOfEli_NFL
Robert Saleh on flight home from London:
Aaron, I promise, we’re going to figure this out!
Aaron Rodgers:
pic.twitter.com/QHeGSxbpqT
Playmaker @playmaker
Robert Saleh: “Don’t worry, Aaron, we can still turn the season around!”
Aaron Rodgers: pic.twitter.com/T8ErJeg0TG
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the firing, Saleh’s departure comes in the midst of a two-game losing streak for the 2-3 Jets, who fell 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday.
All told, Saleh went 20-36 in parts of four seasons as the Jets head coach, and he was never able to get them to the playoffs.
In many respects, Saleh received a pass for what occurred over his first three seasons at the helm when the Jets went 4-13, 7-10 and 7-10. That is because New York arguably got worse quarterback play than any other team in the league during that stretch.
Selecting Zach Wilson second overall in the 2021 NFL draft proved to be a huge misfire by general manager Joe Douglas. It wasted one of the NFL’s top defenses and quality playmakers on the offensive side of the ball.
New York acquired Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2023 season in hopes of moving on from Wilson and making the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on New York’s first offensive series of the season.
The Jets then cycled through Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian at quarterback, none of whom were good enough to make them playoff contenders.
Still, there was optimism entering the 2024 campaign with Rodgers returning to action, but offense has continued to be an issue.
Through five games, the Jets are 27th in the league in total offense and 25th in scoring offense with 18.6 points per game.
At 40 years old and coming off a major injury, Rodgers has clearly not been himself, completing 61.0 percent of his passes for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions.
The New York offense mustered only nine points in a 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 4, and they followed it up with Rodgers throwing three picks in the loss to Minnesota.
On top of that, there were constant questions regarding whether Rodgers and Saleh had a positive relationship, especially after Rodgers appeared to shove Saleh when he went in for a hug during New York’s Week 3 win over the New England Patriots.
Both Rodgers and Saleh played it off like the interaction was nothing, but it seemed awkward nonetheless.
While the Jets offense has struggled this season, the defense has continued to excel, ranking second in total defense and fifth in scoring defense, which was the strongest argument to keep Saleh.
However, Ulbrich will be the one responsible for the defense and the team as a whole now, while Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will be left to figure things out on that side of the ball.