Jets fire former 49ers DC Saleh after 2-3 start to 2024 season

Jets fire former 49ers DC Saleh after 2-3 start to 2024 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The New York Jets have parted ways with coach Robert Saleh.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news on Tuesday, citing sources, just two days after the Jets’ 23-17 loss in London to the Minnesota Vikings.

Jeff Ulbrich, who served as defensive coordinator, was named interim coach. Ulbrich, 47, has been the Jets’ DC since Saleh was hired in 2021.

Saleh, who was the 49ers’ popular defensive coordinator for four seasons, spent over three seasons as the Jets’ head coach, going 20-36 and never finishing with a winning record. New York is 2-3 this season, just one game behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East, with a Monday Night Football match coming up in six days.

Jets owner Woody Johnson released a statement confirming Saleh’s firing:

Schefter reported that Saleh had another year left on his contract, but that the franchise appeared determined to move on after two straight losses and an unproductive start to Aaron Rodgers’ tenure. The 40-year-old quarterback has thrown seven touchdowns and four interceptions in five weeks, and his passer rating of 81.6 is the worst of his career as a starter.

Despite being a top-five defense in 2022, 2023 and 2024 (through five games), the Jets never figured out their quarterback situation under Saleh. The team started six different signal-callers in its 56 games – Zach Wilson (33), Mike White (7), Rodgers (6), Joe Flacco (5), Trevor Siemian (3) and Tim Boyle (2).

After the Jets face the Bills at home in Week 6, they will head to a Sunday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This is a developing story.