Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been linked to several teams during the 2024 regular season. The Dallas Cowboys are one of the more popular choices for people speculating on the next job opportunity for the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach.
During a Tuesday episode of the Let’s Go podcast, Belichick talked about a team in search of a permanent head coach after making a surprise move after Week 5. Following the New York Jets‘ 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, owner Woody Johnson chose to fire Robert Saleh after the team returned from London.
The New York Jets fired a great defensive mind
Belichick, who was briefly the head coach of the Jets in 2000 before resigning to join the Patriots, thought Robert Saleh proved he could build an elite defense with the Jets.
“It’s one of the best defensive teams in the league,” Belichick said. “Robert [Saleh} made them that way. They were 32nd his first year, and they’ve been consistently in the top five, top three in most categories. So he’s done a great job on that side of the ball. And then they’ve had some issues at quarterback, and now Aaron [Rodgers is] back, but out of football for a year.”
Rodgers and the offense were the main issues through the first five games of the season. Saleh’s defense held up its end of the bargain. The Jets could have been patient while waiting on the offense to work out its kinks as the defense kept the team competitive.
Bill Belichick thought the firing was premature
Belichick thought Johnson made an impulsive move to fire Saleh before Week 6 of the season.
“It just seemed like a little early to pull the trigger on that one to me but not out of character for the owner,” Belichick said. “Woody’s always been kind of hard to predict what he’s gonna do. Some of it just is hard to make sense out of, but I think Saleh did a good job there. He brought a strong culture to the defense and obviously not quite there yet, but a long way to go in the season–seemed like a premature move. But that’s not my decision.”
Belichick didn’t make it seem like he was interested in taking the Jets job in the offseason, as he appears to be at odds with Johnson’s philosophy for the team. (Some NFL fans thought Belichick would be a great interim head coach after Saleh was fired, but that looks impossible at this point.) Johnson named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the team’s interim coach for the rest of the 2024 season, but New York still needs to find a permanent suitor.
Johnson is 0-1 as the Jets head coach after the Buffalo Bills defeated New York 23-20 on Monday Night Football in Week 6. (The spark from Saleh’s firing resulted in a 2-4 record as the Jets enter Week 7. )
Belichick’s warning could cause other coaches to pause before accepting a job from Johnson. The Jets could be following the path of the Carolina Panthers with their impulsive owner, David Tepper.
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