Robert Saleh reportedly tried to hire the Jets’ new offensive line coach

Would Robert Saleh still be with the New York Jets if he had been able to get a new offensive line coach in the offseason?

The Jets surprisingly fired Saleh as head coach earlier this week after the team’s 3-2 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named interim coach.

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Jets owner Woody Johnson personally informed Saleh that his services were no longer needed.

“This is probably the best team I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson told reporters, via ESPN.com. “I just felt like the best way forward was a new direction. I thought we would name Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach to get the most out of this team and give us the best chance we all want, which is to go to the playoffs.”

One of the main reasons for firing Saleh was the Jets’ inept offense under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The Jets hired Hackett before the 2023 season after less than a year as the Denver Broncos’ head coach. Hackett was Aaron Rodgers’ offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers.

Last year, the Jets ranked 29th in offense and through the first five games of the 2024 season, they ranked 27th. New York is averaging just 18.6 points and 286.6 yards per game.

Who did Robert Saleh talk to in the offseason?

Saleh “tried to recruit several different offensive coaches in the offseason,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

According to Russini, the Jets spoke with UCLA OC Eric Bieniemy (former Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders OC), Commanders’ OC Kliff Kingsbury (former Arizona Cardinals head coach), Las Vegas Raiders’ OC Luke Getsy and Pittsburgh Steelers’ OC Arthur Smith ( former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons).

“Saleh wanted to add a great head to the offensive team, and if he had succeeded he might still have a job, but it proved too difficult to make a new addition since he had no title of ‘offensive coordinator’ to offer.” Russini reported.

Rodgers was reportedly involved in the process of adding a new offensive coach to the mix, but a new coach didn’t materialize and Saleh was able to bounce back with the offense he had.

Meanwhile, Ulbrich has demoted Hackett and passing game coordinator Todd Downing will call the plays.

Despite poor play so far this season, the Jets still have a chance to finish at the top of the AFC East. If the Jets beat the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, New York will be in first place.

The Jets are 2.5 point underdogs against the Bills at home.

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