Robert Saleh out as Jets head coach

Robert Saleh was relieved of his duties as Jets coach on Tuesday morning.

Jets owner Woody Johnson informed Saleh of his decision to part ways with him. Saleh was 20-36 in three-plus seasons as Jets coach. This is the first time that Johnson has fired a coach in-season since becoming owner in January 2000.

“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.”

The Jets are off to a 2-3 start with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and have struggled moving the football and scoring points, which has been a constant in the Saleh era. 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.”

This was stunning news considering the timing of it.

It’s still early in the season and the Jets’ last two losses have been by a less than a touchdown. The defense, which is playing Saleh’s system, 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 Jets have started slowly in their past two games and looked unprepared. They were down 17-0 to Minnesota on Sunday in London before mounting a comeback. They lost, 23-17, after Rodgers threw his third interception of the game with 44 seconds left at the Minnesota 9.

Saleh was hired in 2021, replacing Adam Gase. Saleh said the Jets would win multiple championships, but they never won more than seven games under Saleh. His 35.7 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, who had one year remaining on his contract.

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 another year because of the 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 would not have a long leash this season.

At NFL Honors, 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 skid.

Ulbrich is a former NFL linebacker and has been the Jets defensive coordinator the whole time under Saleh. 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.

This is Ulbrich’s second time as an interim coach. He replaced Raheem Morris in Atlanta when he was fired 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.