NFL Rumors: Robert Saleh ‘Has No Plans’ to Return to Coaching in 2024 After Jets Exit

Mike Chiari@@mikechiariFeatured Columnist IVOctober 8, 2024

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Robert Saleh is reportedly not planning to coach for the remainder of the 2024 season after the New York Jets fired him from his head coaching position Tuesday.

According to Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle, Saleh is preparing to “regroup, go on vacation with his family and prepare for the next hiring cycle,” and figures to generate plenty of interest as a defensive coordinator candidate.

The Jets announced Saleh’s firing Tuesday following a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5, which dropped their record to 2-3 on the season.

Saleh departs New York having gone just 20-36 in parts of four seasons with no playoff appearances. The Jets continue to have the longest active postseason drought in the NFL having not reached the playoffs since 2010.

The Jets hired Saleh after he enjoyed success as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, and he continued to excel as a defensive coach in New York.

After the Jets ranked last in the NFL in total defense and scoring defense in Saleh’s first season at the helm in 2021, they improved to fourth in both categories in 2022. They were also third in total defense and 12th in scoring defense last season, and they are second in total defense and fifth in scoring defense so far this season.

It is fair to say that the biggest issue during Saleh’s tenure was quarterback play, as the Jets never got consistent performances from the position.

General manager Joe Douglas used the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft on quarterback Zach Wilson, and he was the primary starter for three seasons, going just 12-21 and throwing for 6,293 yards, 23 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.

Once it became apparent after his first two seasons that Wilson was not the franchise guy, the Jets acquired future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers before the 2023 season.

Unfortunately for Saleh and the Jets as a whole, Rodgers suffered a season-ending torn Achilles on the first offensive series of the season, leaving Saleh to shuffle through Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian at quarterback en route to a 7-10 season.

While Rodgers returned healthy this season, there were question marks regarding how he would perform at 40 years old coming off such a significant injury.

Rodgers showed some flashes of his old self amid a 2-1 start, but the offense struggled mightily over the past two weeks with New York falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos and 23-17 to the Vikings this past week with Rodgers throwing three interceptions.

Saleh was ultimately chosen as the scapegoat for the Jets’ shortcomings, but he undoubtedly still has value in the NFL coaching world.

Even if he doesn’t get another head coaching opportunity right away, Saleh’s defensive success speaks for itself, and he should have plenty of options at his disposal once he throws his proverbial hat back in the ring.