Robert Saleh out as Jets head coach

Robert Saleh vowed to lead the Jets to championships when he was hired in 2021. The Jets parted ways with Saleh on Tuesday, believing he was no longer the right man to lead this team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

Owner Woody Johnson informed Saleh on Tuesday morning of his decision to let him go with the Jets off to a 2-3 start. Saleh was 20-36 in three-plus years as Jets coach. This is the first time that Johnson has fired a coach in-season in his 25 years as owner.

“This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations,” Johnson said in a statement. “I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.”

It was stunning news considering the timing of it. Coaches aren’t often fired five weeks into the season. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will replace Saleh as the interim coach for the remainder of the season, Johnson said. Ulbrich will lead the Jets in their Monday night game against Buffalo.

“He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team,” Johnson said. “I believe he along with the coaches on this staff can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason.”

The Jets have struggled moving the football and scoring points, which has been a constant in the Saleh era. His defense has been one of the top units in the NFL. But this was a season filled with high expectations for the Jets and they have not played like a contender.

“The NFL is built for chaos,” Saleh said Monday. “Either the sky is falling, or you've got Super Bowl aspirations, there's no in-between anymore. The reality is what the standings look like now are going to be completely different at the end of the season. There's so much football to be played.”

The Jets have started slowly in their past two games and looked unprepared and undisciplined. The Jets were down 17-0 to Minnesota on Sunday in London before mounting a comeback. They lost, 23-17, after Aaron Rodgers threw his third interception of the game with 44 seconds left at the Minnesota 9.

Saleh was a popular hire in 2021, when the former fiery defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers replaced Adam Gase. Saleh made big claims about turning around the franchise, but the Jets never won more than seven games under his watch. Saleh’s .357 winning percentage is the lowest in Jets history for coaches who have coached more than 50 games.

Quarterback play has been a major issue in the Saleh era. The Jets drafted Zach Wilson in 2021, but he proved to be a bust and was traded in the offseason. The Jets have had eight quarterbacks under Saleh.

Rodgers was supposed to be the stabilizing force for Saleh and the Jets. He tore his left Achilles tendon in Week 1 last year. There was speculation that Saleh would be fired after last season, but Johnson gave him a stay of execution following Rodgers’ injury.

There had been reports of Johnson and Saleh getting into an argument at the owners meetings in the spring. It fueled further speculation that Saleh, who had one year remaining on his contract, would not have a long leash this season.

At NFL Honors in February, Johnson said, “We’ve got to produce this year.” The Jets haven’t made the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons. They’ll now turn to Ulbrich to try and end that unsightly skid.

Ulbrich is a former NFL linebacker who played 10 seasons with the 49ers. The Jets blocked the 49ers from hiring Ulbrich this past offseason to be their defensive coordinator.

He’s held that title the whole time Saleh has been the Jets coach. The Jets were a top-five defense the past two seasons and are currently No. 2 in total defense and No. 5 in points allowed this season.

Ulbrich is in his 12th season coaching in the NFL. He spent time with the Seahawks and Falcons, where he served as assistant head coach in 2020.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.