Aaron Rodgers reportedly arrived at the Jets facility on Tuesday unaware that his former head coach, Robert Saleh, was no longer employed by the team.
Now, the four-time NFL MVP’s reaction has been revealed, with Saleh ousted after being one of the main cogs moving mountains to keep him happy.
Rodgers was “blindsided” by the news of Saleh’s firing and had no indication the move was coming, according to an NFL insider. Jordan Schultz.
Jets owner Woody Johnson also made the move on his own and did not approach Rodgers before firing Saleh, nor did he inform him of the move before arriving at team headquarters.
Rodgers had a meeting with Johnson after hearing the news that Saleh received the pink slip.
Rodgers reportedly showed up at the Jets facility on Tuesday with no idea that Saleh had been fired.
Rodgers and Saleh had a good relationship from the outside despite the lack of success.
The sports world was shocked by Saleh’s firing Tuesday five games into the Jets’ season, and Rodgers’ response to the loss of his head coach was as valuable an opinion as any within the organization.
Rodgers was surprised enough by the news to delay his weekly spot on Pat McAfee’s show by a day and appear on Wednesday instead of his signature Tuesday spot.
The Jets are 2-3 this season, with sky-high expectations and a limited window with their 40-year-old quarterback.
Johnson apparently made the move with Rodgers in mind despite not consulting with him about it.
“This morning I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer be the head coach of the Jets,” Jets owner Woody Johnson confirmed in a statement Tuesday. ‘I thanked him for his hard work over the last three and a half years and wished him and his family the best moving forward.
“It was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should have our expectations and I think now is the best time to move in a different direction.”
Rodgers’ age has given the Jets a limited window to win with him running the offense.
Woody Johnson fired Saleh on Tuesday, which came as a surprise to Rodgers and most people.
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Rodgers has stated on multiple occasions that he likes Saleh, with any power play to get his coach fired.
Saleh was reportedly considering firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, the former Broncos head coach, before he was fired.
Johnson’s reasoning for firing Saleh, his first in-season firing in 25 years as owner, is to give his team the best chance to win this season.
Saleh’s dismissal comes two days after the Jets lost to the undefeated Vikings in London, where he controversially wore a Lebanese flag on his jersey.
His decision to carry the flag in the midst of the war between Israel and Hezbollah was criticized when Monday marked the first anniversary of the Nova Music Festival, where The Hamas terrorist group killed more than 1,200 people in Israel.
Saleh, who became the NFL’s first Muslim-American head coach when he joined the Jets in 2021, leaves with a dismal 20-36 record after failing to make the playoffs in each of his three complete seasons.
Rodgers has stayed healthy this season, but his offense is the main culprit for the team’s struggles in 2024.
After Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on four offensive plays in his 2023 season, Rodgers remained in the headlines with his weekly appearances on McAfee’s show.
Rodgers’ appearances were considered controversial, as he discussed conspiracy theories surrounding the coronavirus vaccine and called Travis Kelce ‘Mr. Pfizer.’