New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers called Tuesday’s firing of coach Robert Saleh a reminder that the NFL is a “tough business” but insisted that he did not have any say in the franchise’s decision.
“I resent any of those accusations because they’re patently false,” Rodgers said Wednesday during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Shortly after Saleh’s firing, speculation that Rodgers asked for the switch widely circulated on social media. Those theories were amplified with news that Rodgers spoke to Jets owner Woody Johnson before Saleh’s firing.
“I did talk to Woody,” Rodgers said. “He called me on Monday night. We had a short conversation. He just asked me how I was doing … we talked about the game, how disappointed I was in my performance and how we’re gonna get this thing turned around and we hung up. Woody has no obligation to let me know what his plans are.”
The move to dismiss Saleh came with New York off to a 2-3 start this season, including losses to the Denver Broncos at home and the Minnesota Vikings in London over the last two weeks. Saleh, who was in his fourth season as coach, had a 20-36 record with no winning seasons or playoff appearances. On Tuesday, the Jets named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the team’s interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Johnson told reporters Tuesday that the decision to fire Saleh was “my decision and my decision alone.” Johnson said he spoke with Rodgers on Monday after the team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but the topic of firing Saleh was not specifically discussed.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Free, daily NFL updates direct to your inbox.
Sign Up
Speculation about tension in the Rodgers-Saleh relationship emerged in recent weeks, though both publicly denied any issues. The two had a sideline “shove-hug” in Week 3 near the end of a win over the New England Patriots, but they downplayed the interaction postgame. Following the Jets’ Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos, Rodgers and Saleh expressed differing thoughts about the use of cadence (the words quarterbacks say at the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped), which Rodgers views as a weapon to keep the defense on its heels, while Saleh felt it was the cause of numerous offensive penalties in the game.
Rodgers, who turns 41 in December, is the oldest quarterback in the league and has had an up-and-down start to the 2024 season. He has thrown for 1,093 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Three of those interceptions came in Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the undefeated Vikings.
The Jets offense ranks 27th in yards per game (286.6) and 25th in points per game (18.6) under offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who was the OC for two of Rodgers’ four MVP seasons in Green Bay (in 2020 and 2021). The veteran signal-caller was steadfast in his support of Hackett and the belief that the offense would get on the right track.
Rodgers did say that something needs to change for the Jets.
“There was going to be some things that needed to change regardless of what happened to Robert,” he said.
Rodgers’ return from an Achilles tear suffered just four plays into the 2023 regular season had set expectations at a high level, but he ended up playing just six games for Saleh over two seasons. Now, Ulbrich will take over ahead of Monday night’s AFC East showdown with Buffalo. The Jets are just one game back of the Bills, who have also lost two straight.
(Photo: Naomi Baker / Getty Images)
