The Patriots’ division rivals have let go of Saleh after a 2-3 start.
The New York Jets are the first team to fire their head coach this season.
The organization has decided to relieve Robert Saleh of his duties on Tuesday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Jets entered 2024 with high hopes but ended up winning just two of their first five games.
Saleh, 45, rose to prominence as defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. He was hired as the Jets’ head coach in 2021 to replace Adam Gase after a 2-14 season. Saleh’s team only improved marginally, however: he went 4-13 in his first year, followed by consecutive 7-10 seasons.
However, the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs each of his three full seasons at the helm. Their postseason drought extends back to 2010, the longest in the NFL.
In hopes of turning its season around and maybe even getting back into the playoff mix, New York will now turn to its defensive coordinator: Jeff Ulbrich will lead the team as interim coach following Saleh’s firing.
The New England Patriots will meet the Ulbrich-led Jets in three weeks. Gang Green is scheduled to visit Gillette Stadium on October 27 for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The Jets won the first meeting between the two division rivals, celebrating a 24-3 blowout in Week 3.
That win was Saleh’s 20th and last as head coach of the Jets.