New York Jets star Aaron Rodgers has admitted that Robert Saleh would likely still be in a job had he started the 2024 season well after recovering from his season-ending Achilles injury.
Head coach Saleh was dismissed following last weekend’s defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in London, with the Jets’ record this season sinking to 2-3. It’s Rodgers’ first full season as a Jet following his blockbuster trade from his longtime team, the Green Bay Packers, last year.
The 40-year-old suffered a 2023 season-ending injury four snaps into his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills. This season, Rodgers has struggled, throwing seven touchdown passes, but also suffered four interceptions.
The Jets have been hoping that Rodgers can fire the Jets to their first postseason appearance since 2010. However, the current trend thus far this season suggests the franchise will be waiting for another season.
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Saleh was escorted out of the Jets facility earlier this week and the rumor mill suggested that Rodgers had a part to play in the head coach’s dismissal. Rodgers dispelled those myths during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
He also admitted that had he started the season well, Saleh would likely still be in a job. The Jets’ struggles in 2024 have come on the offense side of the ball, while their defense has helped keep games close, including the defeat to the Vikings in London, where they lost by six points.
It was a Rodgers interception late on in the fourth quarter – his third of the game – which sealed victory for the Vikings, who maintained their perfect record in 2024. “If I play better, this doesn’t happen,” Rodgers admitted.
Robert Saleh was sacked by the Jets following the loss to the Vikings in London (
Getty)
“When you make a change on the offense, it is a mirror held up for all of us that played. When something like this happens, it is a reset for everybody.”
Rodgers continued: “We all feel terrible about the opportunity that we had, that we squandered, that led to Robert getting fired and Jeff (Ulbrich) getting promoted. If I play better, this doesn’t happen. If we play better on offense, this doesn’t happen. It puts the spotlight on us and now it is on us to do this. We have to be accountable to each other. We have got to raise the level of our play to the standard that we set in training camp.”
Jeff Ulbrich will take temporary charge of the Jets. They play the Bills next week on Monday Night Football.
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