The New York Jets’ decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh has left Bill Belichick, former New England Patriots head coach, puzzled. During an appearance on “A Coach’s Perspective,” Belichick expressed confusion about the firing, describing it as “a little bit puzzling.”
He acknowledged that it is the owner’s decision, but mentioned that the Jets have faced a difficult situation this season, with a sense of unease surrounding the team. Despite a strong start to the season, the team’s recent struggles seemed to have led to Saleh’s dismissal.
Jets’ owner Woody Johnson confirmed that he made the decision to part ways with Saleh, who was fired after just five games into the 2024 season. After a promising 2-1 start, the Jets suffered two tough losses—one to the Denver Broncos and another to the Minnesota Vikings in London.
The 10-9 loss to the Broncos reportedly infuriated Johnson, especially after Saleh asked for patience from the fans and management. Another loss shortly after that seemed to be the final straw, leading to Saleh’s firing.
Belichick, who has his own complicated history with the Jets, pointed out that Saleh wasn’t entirely to blame. He highlighted issues with the Jets’ offensive line and franchise instability as key factors contributing to the team’s problems.
He specifically mentioned the challenges with offensive lineman Mekhi Becton and the lack of protection for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Despite these offensive struggles, Belichick acknowledged that the Jets’ defense had been solid in recent years, but the overall organization seemed dysfunctional, with problems extending from ownership to coaching.
The Jets moved quickly to replace Saleh with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who has taken over as head coach. Additionally, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett lost his play-calling duties, with Todd Downing stepping in for that role. Despite these changes, Hackett will remain with the team. These adjustments reflect the Jets’ efforts to stabilize their team amid a rocky start to the season.
As for Belichick, he has a long history of success against the Jets, with a dominant 34-10 record during his time with the Patriots. Although he left the Patriots last season and is now exploring his next head coaching opportunity, it’s unlikely that the Jets will pursue him, given the rocky history between him and the franchise. Belichick resigned from the Jets in 2000 after briefly accepting their head coaching role, citing ownership issues as the reason for his departure.
