Jets owner Woody Johnson on firing Robert Saleh, naming Jeff Ulbrich interim coach: 'We can do better'

NEW YORK — After the surprising firing of Robert Saleh, Jets owner Woody Johnson explained his decision when he spoke to the media on a conference call Tuesday afternoon.

Johnson said he is looking for an upgrade and feels now-interim coach Jeff Ulbrich can provide the spark he needs following a disappointing 2-3 start.

“I’ve seen him coach and I know the relationship he has with the players, and they respect him, they trust him,” Johnson said about Ulbrich. “I’ve seen it at halftime, and I’ve seen it in practice.

“When he talks, they listen to him in a way that probably represents the fact that he did play the sport at linebacker for 10 years, which is pretty unique, so he brings that knowledge and the respect, and the knowledge to the game in a way that I think that will be very good for the players going forward.”

Johnson hired Saleh in 2021, hoping to turn around a Jets franchise that’s been struggling since 2010. But positive results for Gang Green never came to fruition. The main culprit was the Jets’ offense, which finished among the worst in the league the previous three seasons and is near the bottom of the NFL again in 2024.

After five games, Gang Green is 27th in yards (286.6) and 25th in points (18.6) per game. The return of Aaron Rodgers from a season-ending Achilles injury was supposed to drastically improve the offense after having Zach Wilson as the primary starter most of the previous three seasons, but that has not happened.

Because of that, the pressure continues to mount for offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. For now, Hackett will remain the Jets' offensive play caller according to sources, but Johnson left the door open to possibly make changes on that side of the ball.

“We are going to make changes wherever changes are due,” Johnson said. “We know where we are weak and where we are strong and so do you. You can see it every week, so we are going to make the changes that enable us to give these fabulous players on both sides of the ball the chance to win and we know that we have to make some improvements and changes here, that is sure.

“And Jeff, although I haven’t had a chance to talk to him too much today because he is quickly morphing into the head coach — which is a pretty sizable transition for him — which I think he is more than capable of handling, by the way, so yeah, offense has been certainly a challenge, more than a challenge, and I think it is something that I am sure he will be focusing on.”

Since the acquisition of Rodgers in a trade with the Green Packers in 2023, the Jets have been viewed as Super Bowl contenders. The Jets also made several signings during the offseason to help the offense, like signing left tackles Tyron Smith and Mike Williams and trading for right tackle Morgan Moses.

When Saleh took the job in 2021, he promised to lead the Jets to a championship, but he finished with a 20-36 record and zero playoff appearances in his four seasons as coach. The last two losses to the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings certainly factored into Johnson’s decision, but he said it wasn’t the only reason why the move was made.

“It is not just the last two games that has precipitated this decision, it is a longer time frame,” Johnson said. “I have had a couple of years to think about this and I just think we can do better.

“The team can do better if we have this new leadership. I think that is going to bring out the best in these players, I really do. I feel confident that is going to happen and this is a new day for the team and it is a new day that is welcome and as the team realizes what [an] opportunity this is for them. I think they are going to go to a level that we haven’t seen in a while.”

Johnson said Rodgers didn’t have any input on the coaching change. He did speak to Rodgers following the loss to the Vikings, but Johnson said he didn’t mention a potential change was on the horizon.

There has been much recent speculation about Rodgers’ relationship with Saleh since the four-time NFL MVP missed mandatory minicamp in June for a trip to Egypt. Then, there was a non-hugging moment between Rodgers and Saleh during the Jets’ 24-3 victory against the Patriots in Week 3.

Johnson said he had consulted with Jets general manager Joe Douglas on the decision to fire Saleh, but ultimately, this was his decision.

“At the end of the day this was my decision and my decision alone,” Johnson said. “I have had enough experience doing these things. It is the first time I have done it this early, but once again I thought and think that this will help the team, help this talented team achieve the goals that the team wants and that I want and the fans want.”