The New York Jets firing Robert Saleh could have been to ‘shift blame’ from Aaron Rodgers amid his underwhelming start to the season.
That’s the verdict of former NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya, who was left stunned by the news of Saleh’s departure on Tuesday.
Jets owner Woody Johnson has sent shockwaves through the sport by dropping the axe on his head coach just five games into the season, with defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich now placed in interim charge for the rest of the campaign.
While they did suffer a second straight defeat against the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday, a loss which has left them with a losing 2-3 record, Saleh could still have topped the AFC East with a win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday.
According to Tafoya, Rodgers – who threw three interceptions against the Vikings – is just as much to blame for the Jets’ struggles this season.
The New York Jets firing Robert Saleh could have been to ‘shift blame’ from Aaron Rodgers
‘Wow, that makes you wonder what kinds of conversations were going on, doesn’t it?’ she said on Outkick’s Don’t @ Me With Dan Dakich podcast after being told Saleh had lost his job.
‘Wow, I don’t know what to say about that. Yeah, they are definitely underperforming, but so is Aaron Rodgers.’
Rodgers has completed 61 percent of his passes and averaged 218.6 yards per game with seven touchdown passes and four interceptions through five games this season.
Yet incredibly, the Jets offense has scored as many points through five games with the four-time MVP as they did last year with Zach Wilson as quarterback (93).
And Tafoya, who spent over a decade as a sideline reporter for NBC, believes the decision to fire Saleh may well have been to protect Rodgers.
‘See, it’s always the coach that goes first because you can’t fire an entire roster, so you go after the head coach,’ she continued. ‘Maybe you go after a coordinator, but I am surprised by this. That’s very early in the season to make that decision.
Saleh has been axed by the Jets just five games into the season after two straight defeats
Ex-NFL sideline reporter Michele Tafoya feels the decision may have been to protect Rodgers
The quarterback’s long-awaited return from injury has failed to inspire the Jets so far
‘I know there are a number of quarterbacks who are very influential in what goes on in the front office. I would say maybe Aaron might be one of those guys.
‘But I was under the impression that they got along, that Aaron is very close to the offensive coordinator in New York… this is a strange one to me.
‘But the Jets are looking to shake things up. Obviously, this has been an incredibly disappointing start for the entire team. A lot of people want to point the finger at Aaron, maybe this is a way to shift blame. I don’t know, this is fascinating to me.’
After confirming Saleh’s exit, Johnson revealed that he spoke with Rodgers the night before he made the decision – albeit without discussing the fate of the head coach.
Via Adam Schefter, the businessman maintained that the former Super Bowl winner had no input in Saleh’s pending exit. He said that he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas but that ultimately it was his decision and his decision alone.
Woody explained that he felt a coaching change was necessary to best reap the potential of his players and end the franchise’s playoff drought.
Owner Woody Johnson insisted Rodgers had nothing to do with the decision to fire Saleh
The Jets have failed to make it to the postseason since 2011, when they lost AFC Championship game, something which Johnson had been hoping to rectify when he appointed Saleh in 2021.
But the Lebanese-American, who became the NFL’s first ever Muslim head coach when he joined the Jets, departs with a dismal 20-36 record after failing to make the playoffs in each of his three full seasons.
Saleh went through six different starting quarterbacks in his time at MetLife; with Rodgers coming after Zach Wilson, Mike White, Trevor Siemian, Tim Boyle and Joe Flacco.
