Coach marched out by security after brutal sacking

Woody Johnson sensed his struggling New York Jets needed a change and didn’t want to waste any time getting the franchise back on track.

So the owner made the stunning decision Wednesday (AEDT) to fire head coach Robert Saleh just five games into his fourth season after the team’s 2-3 start.

The decision came after a 23-17 loss against the Minnesota Vikings in week five.

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“This is one of the most talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets,” Johnson said during a conference call with reporters.

“I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today.

“This change, the change that we made today — that I made — I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins, starting now.”

Saleh was 20-36 as coach of the Jets, who are trying to snap the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons. The move marks the first time in Johnson’s 25-year tenure that a head coach has been fired during the season.

After turning up for work and looking to prepare the side for their week six game against divisional rivals Buffalo, Saleh was informed of his demise and swiftly escorted out of the building by the team’s security.

The surprising move came just one day after Saleh said he was confident star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Jets would be able to turn things around.

“I’m not panicked,” Saleh said. “Nobody in the building is panicked.”

But the team’s powerbrokers has seen enough from Saleh, who became the NFL’s first coach fired this season with one year remaining on his contract.

“It’s not just the last two games that has precipitated this decision,” Johnson said.

“It’s a longer time frame. I’ve had a couple of years to think about this and I just think we can do better. The team can do better. As we have this new leadership, I think that’s going to bring out the best in these players, I really do.

“I feel confident that that’s going to happen.”

Johnson said he spoke with Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets at the start of 2023 but missed the entire season with an Achilles injury suffered in the opening week.

There have been question markers about Rodgers’ relationship with Saleh, but both men denied any friction as recently as last week in London when the quarterback said “there’s some driving force trying to put a wedge outside the facility” between the two.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as interim coach for the rest of the season, with the Jets maintaining expectations to make the playoffs.

“He’s going to add a spark of positivity,” Johnson said.