The New York Jets have fired Robert Saleh, amid speculation that the relationship between the head coach and quarterback Aaron Rodgers had soured after a dreadful start to the 2024 NFL season.
In particular, Rodgers and the Jets’ offense have been a rudderless ship as New York limped to a 2-3 start to the season, most recently falling to the Minnesota Vikings 23-17 in London on Sunday, as Rodgers tossed three interceptions for just the fifth time in his career.
However, even though Rodgers has a Super Bowl ring on his finger and four MVP awards on his mantle, playoff success has not followed the 40-year-old quarterback.
As Peter Bukowski, who hosts the LockedOnPackers podcast points out, Rodgers now has been part of as many in-season coaching firings as playoff victories since 2018.
Rodgers, of course, was the Green Bay Packers quarterback when Mike McCarthy was fired in 2018 and now Saleh’s dismissal matches his postseason victory total over that span.
NFL Sources Blame Aaron Rodgers for New York Jets firing Robert Saleh
Saleh’s firing makes one thing crystal clear; the Jets are now officially all-in on Rodgers, if that hadn’t been obvious before this season even began.
However, while Rodgers wallows in mediocrity, currently completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,093 yards with seven touchdowns to four interceptions, New York has scored the same number of points through five weeks this season as last.
There are several people inside the league who point the finger at Rodgers as the impetus for the Jets moving on from Saleh.
“Imagine listening to Aaron Rodgers after watching that last throw of the game on Sunday,” one league source tells me. “And thinking he knows whats best for the organization.”
After firing Saleh, the pressure is on Rodgers and general manager Joe Douglas to turn this season around and make the playoffs, or else there could be even more changes coming for the Jets this offseason.
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