The New York Jets made a shocking move prior to their Week 6 matchup, firing head coach Robert Saleh. After five games and a 2-3 record, the Jets decided to let go of their three-year head coach.
The Jets have replaced Saleh with interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. New York’s move was shocking, and only time will tell if it was the right move or not.
Some believe it was, and others, like Jets superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner, are having a hard time with the move. Gardner spoke to the media and said that he is having a difficult time with Saleh’s firing.
“I was shocked,” Gardner said. “The reality is, we’re 2-3. Everything is still in front of us. I was really shocked. Coach Saleh and I were extremely close since the day the Jets first drafted me. To be honest, he changed my life.
“Where I come from, all the stuff that I’ve been through in growing up in Detroit and for him to be able to take a chance on me … that’s why for his birthday I text him and every year I say, ‘I appreciate you for taking a chance on me.’ “
“We doing it for him still. That’s just what it is,” Gardner added. “We’re still doing it for him because we know everything he did was out of the kindness of his heart to make the team better.”
Sauce Gardner (who deleted social media) said Robert Saleh “changed my life.” That’s why, every year, he texts him on his bday and says “I appreciate you.”
Gardner said it still feels weird, even today.
“If I’m being honest… we’re doing it for him still.” #jets
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) October 10, 2024
Gardner went on to say that the criticism that Saleh received was unfair.
“People can say it’s his fault but, realistically, we are grown men who get paid millions of dollars,” Gardner said. “We should be able to be held accountable. We should be able to correct ourselves and the mistakes that we make. It definitely threw me off. He’s a great guy, a great coach. He always helped me find ways to get better. Not just me, all the guys around, coaches as well. He was a true leader, a guy that we all followed. I still can’t believe it.”
The only coach that Gardner has known throughout his entire NFL career is Saleh. It will be a tough adjustment for Gardner and the Jets defense. Saleh is a defensive-minded coach and played a big part in the Jets being a formidable defense.
The first look at the Jets without Saleh will be on primetime when they take on the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football in the Meadowlands.
The Jets will look to improve to 2-0 in division play.
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