Poor results didn’t help Robert Saleh’s case in New York, but someone within the Jets organization had to drive the bus that sent the head coach out of town.
Was it Aaron Rodgers?
That question probably was on the minds of many fans and media members alike after Saleh was fired by the Jets on Tuesday. Starting quarterbacks wield a lot of power, especially signal-callers as decorated as Rodgers. So, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tried to gain clarity on the speculation as rumors about Saleh’s firing started to run rampant.
“One source believed the notion that Aaron Rodgers intentionally got Saleh fired is ‘BS’ and that Rodgers actually advocated for Saleh at the end of last season,” Fowler wrote. “The belief from some in the building is Saleh was good with Rodgers, despite the perception, along with general manager Joe Douglas. Maybe other factors in relation to Rodgers were at play in Johnson’s evaluation. But, as a separate source said, ‘It was 100% Woody.’ One team source believed Johnson, who didn’t hand-pick Saleh because he was away from the team in 2021 while serving as the U.K. ambassador, wasn’t all-in on Saleh well before his firing and had concerns about the coach’s tactics and leadership.“
Saleh, who reportedly was treated harshly after losing his job in the Meadowlands, took the high road when he issued a statement about the situation Wednesday. Jeff Ulbrich will serve as New York’s interim head coach going forward.
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Featured image via Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com via USA TODAY Network