Legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick has sounded off on the Jets’ firing of head coach Robert Saleh, calling the move from the 2-3 team ‘puzzling.’
Saleh, who went 20-36 with New York, was given his marching orders following the team’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings in London.
And while the Jets’ offense has been sputtering even with Aaron Rodgers under center, Belichick – who once accepted the Jets head coaching job only to resign a day later – was taken aback by Gang Green’s decision to part ways with Saleh.
‘It is a little bit puzzling. It is what it is, and everybody has to move forward,’ he said on his ‘Coach’ podcast. ‘It’s the owner’s prerogative to make that decision, and clearly that’s what he decided to do.
‘But there have been a lot of things that have been kind of confusing. It hasn’t been a great situation for the Jets this year. You can kind of feel there’s been kind of a chill.’
The Jets made the shock decision to part company with Saleh just five games into the season
And Bill Belichick, who is without an NFL coaching job at the moment, called the decision ‘puzzling’
After the decision, owner Woody Johnson said, ‘This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.’
Following his firing, Saleh also released a statement thanking the Jets and their fanbase for their support during his nearly four years there.
‘To the Jets Organization, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people. I will always be appreciative of the love and support from everyone at 1 Jets Drive,’ he said in a statement.
‘To all of the players, I truly love and appreciate every single one of you. The character of the men in the locker room made coaching you guys the ultimate privilege. Through all the ups and downs, each and every one of you showed up everyday and attacked every moment.
‘To my fellow coaches and staff, it has been an honor to work with all of you. Every one of you were ‘all in’ and made sacrifices for one another that will never be forgotten. I wish you all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season.
Belichick spent three years with the Jets and accepted the team’s head coaching job in 2000 before resigning a day later
Aaron Rodgers denied playing a role in Saleh’s firing afterwards on the Pat McAfee Show
‘To the most passionate fan base in the NFL, thank you for embracing my family. It has been a pleasure calling New York our home and we will forever appreciate all of the memories that were created here.’
While the Jets established themselves as an elite defensive team under Saleh, they consistently struggled on offense – in large part due to having Zach Wilson under center from 2021-23.
However, even with Rodgers returning from his Achilles injury this season, the team is averaging just 18.6 points per game – and Saleh ultimately took the fall.
Some had suggested that Rodgers – who is a close friend of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett – had instigated the firing, though Rodgers called those claims ‘ridiculous’ on the Pat McAfee show.
Hackett has since been demoted by interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.