The New York Jets made a bold and unexpected move when they fired Robert Saleh on Tuesday, just five games into the 2024 season. And as you might expect, it sent the sports media into Defcon 1 alert condition.
Jets owner Woody Johnson had never fired a coach in the middle of the season before, not even Adam Gase. But a 2-3 start and sky-high expectations with a healthy yet aging Aaron Rodgers and a loaded defense meant that there was no room for error. Saleh had made his share of mistakes and was certainly under pressure, but his seat went from warm to scorching in no time.
The suddenness of the firing and the fact that it took place so early in the season after barely a month has been played left the sports media with plenty of ammunition and a wide range of theories on how to react.
Of course, the immediate place to go is to Aaron Rodgers Conspiracy Land, thinking that the aging quarterback is pulling the strings and was instrumental in Saleh’s firing. After all, there was that awkward non-hug a couple of weeks ago and some interesting press conference nuggets.
Dan Le Batard, who has a history of poking fun at Rodgers’ conspiracies, was happy to stake out that territory for himself just minutes after the news broke. However, it’s worth noting that Rodgers confidante Nathaniel Hackett was not given the interim job to replace Robert Saleh, instead going to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
“There has been a power struggle in New York and your quarterback just won it. They have given over the entirety of the organization to (Aaron Rodgers).” – Dan on what it means for the Jets to fire Robert Saleh.
📺 https://t.co/yZvONsqFbL pic.twitter.com/E4JMJTitI5
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) October 8, 2024
Of course, that wasn’t all when it came to Rodgers-related reactions to the Saleh news.
Aaron Rodgers about to hire RFK to be Jets head coach
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) October 8, 2024
What a windfall for Pat McAfee who gets to interview Aaron Rodgers about why he fired Robert Saleh in a few hours.
— Jimmy Traina (@JimmyTraina) October 8, 2024
Then there was the delicious irony in the calls for Bill Belichick to come back to coach the Jets, in what would be an incredible full circle moment after Belichick resigned after one day on the job in 2000. For those that may not recall their ancient NFL history, Belichick was ready to succeed Bill Parcells in New York as head coach and then resigned to take the job in New England with the Jets ultimately trading a first round pick to the Pats. Belichick went on to win six Super Bowls with the Patriots while the Jets remained the Jets.
Bill Belichick to the Jets soon 👀 pic.twitter.com/veZwXHkQDl
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) October 8, 2024
I know this will likely never happen because Bill Belichick hates the Jets, but I think Woody Johnson at least has to make the phone call. The chance to coach Aaron Rodgers, who Belichick admires, on a win-now team, combined with Woody’s money, could smooth things over.…
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) October 8, 2024
Everyone always says Bill Belichick wouldn’t coach the team because he hates the Jets, but doesn’t hating the Jets mean you’re true, real deal Jets fan?
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) October 8, 2024
Then there were the live reactions on First Take, which included Adam Schefter calling in from his car and Stephen A. Smith dropping a bomb from an unnamed comedian friend of his who said that Woody Johnson is “Donald Sterling without the racism” after Robert Saleh was canned.
Stephen A. Smith shares a quote on First Take from a Hollywood comedian friend of his after the Jets fired Robert Saleh.
“Woody Johnson is Donald Sterling without the racism.” pic.twitter.com/sA2BYr7hXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 8, 2024
If all of that happened in mere minutes after Saleh was fired, who knows what the rest of the day and this week will hold. If Aaron Rodgers goes through with his Tuesday interview with Pat McAfee, it could be a historic day of content on the interwebs.
