New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh walked into work this morning to find out he no longer had a job and was escorted by the team's director of security.
On Tuesday, Jets owner Woody Johnson announced that Saleh would no longer be the team's head coach, effective immediately, and ESPN's Rich Cimini reported that Saleh had walked into work ready to prep for the game against the Buffalo Bills next Monday. However, he met with Johnson and was fired on the spot, a decision that reportedly "stunned" Saleh. In a statement, Johnson said the team hadn't reached expectations with their 2-3 record on the season.
"This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets," Johnson said. "I thanked him for his hard work these past three-and-a-half years and wished him and his family well moving forward. This was not an easy decision, but we are not where we should be given our expectations, and I believe now is the best time for us to move in a different direction."
Johnson added that Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be the interim head coach for the rest of the season. Five games into the season, the Jets defense is ranked No. 2; however, the team's problems have been on offense, which is currently ranked No. 27.
According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, after receiving the news, the director of security escorted Saleh out of the building. NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirmed the story and added that there was no meeting with players to inform them of the decision. But SNY's Connor Hughes later reported that "multiple sources" claimed Saleh wasn't taken out of the team facility building by security.
Saleh was hired as head coach in 2021, posting a 20-36 career record with the Jets. As wild as this news has gotten, the Jets have a 2-3 record going into a Monday Night Football matchup with the 3-2 Buffalo Bills. If they secure the victory, New York will be at the top of the AFC East standings.