Jets insiders question job security of HC Robert Saleh

It's been widely believed that New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, general manager Joe Douglas and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will survive a disappointing season since quarterback Aaron Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into his Jets tenure back on Sept. 11. 

Jets insiders Connor Hughes of SNY and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic both questioned at least Saleh's job security following the club's woeful 30-0 loss at the Miami Dolphins on Sunday that officially eliminated New York from postseason contention. 

Hughes posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that Jets owner Woody Johnson "still does not intend on making changes" this coming offseason. 

However, Hughes wrote for SNY that the Jets' "on-field performance and postgame quotes illustrate players are dangerously close to turning" on Saleh. Specifically, veteran wide receiver Allen Lazard said the Jets were "out-schemed" and "out-efforted" in Miami. Jets cornerback D.J. Reed openly questioned the team's willingness to battle against the Dolphins for four quarters. 

"They’ve made off-the-record remarks in recent weeks," Hughes said about Jets players. "Now they’re saying them in front of cameras. They’re getting tired of the blame for this season being put on them — what they can’t do, who’s not there. They want to be put in a position to succeed and feel they are not. The frustration is at an all-time high." 

Meanwhile, Rosenblatt wrote that "it’s fair to wonder if Saleh’s job is on the line" when the 5-9 Jets host the lowly 4-10 Washington Commanders this Sunday. It's unclear if Rodgers will try to force his way into the lineup for that matchup with the Jets already knowing they won't play past Week 18 until next summer. 

"If the Jets lose to a 4-10 Washington Commanders team, at home, it might really be the end of the road," Rosenblatt explained. "It would be difficult for owner Woody Johnson to justify running it back with this coaching staff."

In total, Saleh has accumulated a 16-32 record with the Jets since 2021. The franchise will finish a 13th consecutive season without a postseason trip.

"If Robert Saleh felt safe after last week, he should be worried now," Rosenblatt noted. "There is losing games, and then there is losing the locker room, and Saleh is getting dangerously close to the latter. It might already be happening. The Jets were outclassed by the Dolphins, and it’s not the first time Saleh was outcoached this season."

Many within the NFL community assume Rodgers, who seems committed to playing for the Jets through next season, will at least help Johnson make final calls on the statuses of individuals such as Saleh and Douglas. With that said, whispers are growing louder suggesting even Rodgers may not be able to save Saleh if the Jets drop nine of their last 10 contests to finish the campaign at 5-12.