Robert Saleh Quickly Lands New NFL Job After Being Fired By Jets

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh wasn’t out of a job for long.

Saleh joined the Green Bay Packers in what appears to be an advisory role to head coach Matt LaFleur after being fired by the Jets just over two weeks ago. Saleh was present at Packers practice Wednesday.

Saleh’s primary role with the Packers will be assisting Green Bay’s loaded offense, which ranks seventh in the NFL with 26.6 points per game. That’s a switch up for Salah, who is primarily known for his work on the other side of the ball since he served four seasons as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers from 2017-2020.

“Having a defensive mind talking offense and helping us with things he might be able to see, kind of similar scheme stuff, things the defense might be looking for, it helps,” LaFleur told reporters, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

LaFleur added: “I think he’s got an elite defensive mind. But that’s why I want him on the offensive side, so he can help us attack the defenses.”

Saleh’s trying to find stability after a rocky tenure with the Jets. He posted a 20-36 record over three-plus seasons with New York, including back-to-back 7-10 campaigns with Zach Wilson as the team’s primary quarterback. But Saleh was shown the door this season after not meeting the enormous expectations set for the Jets with Aaron Rodgers behind center by getting off to an underwhelming 2-3 start.

Helping Saleh land this new gig is his tight relationship with LaFleur. The two have worked together at previous stops, including when they were first starting out as graduate assistants with Central Michigan in 2004.

Saleh even helped get LaFleur a job as an offensive assistant in 2008 with the Houston Texans. Perhaps this is LaFleur, who was the best man in Saleh’s wedding, paying back his longtime friend by bringing Saleh onto his staff.

LaFleur said he tried to convince Saleh to take time off after being canned by the Jets, but that venture failed.

“Well, I told him to do that, but he didn’t listen,” LaFleur said. “So, yeah, I just think it speaks to how much he loves the game of football and was, obviously it’s tough when it gets kind of taken away from you. And I don’t think it was the right decision (to fire Saleh), but that’s not for me to say, so.”