Jets’ CJ Mosley Defends Saleh: 'Same Page'

Despite concerns of having the wrong head coach needed for a championship contender, the New York Jets leaders in the locker room are fully behind Robert Saleh.

Anonymous sources and a disgruntled owner have left New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh with seemingly few allies left as he tries to end Gang Green's 13-year playoff drought. 

The Athletic's January report detailing his deficiencies came from 30 different sources both within and outside 1 Jets Drive. Owner Woody Johnson's demand for wins on Thursday's NFL Honors night was just further pressure on the former 49ers defensive coordinator. 

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Despite the walls seemingly closing in on the head coach, the Jets roster still appears to have Saleh's back heading into the 2024 offseason. 

Speaking on the Jake Asman Show during Super Bowl week, Jets captain and linebacker CJ Mosley defended the head coach while maintaining that he was the right guy to lead the locker room. 

"To me, Coach Saleh is the right guy for this job," Mosley stated to Asman. "His defense, his style, the coaching staff, trainers, all those little things that he has to say ok to have made this second part of my career take off. I have so much respect for him."

Mosley totaled 152 tackles in 2023 with half a sack and an interception. He reached an elite 82.9 Pro Football Focus grade despite not reaching the Pro Bowl or receiving All-Pro honors. 

Along with first-team All-Pro Quincy Williams, Mosley was a part of one of the more complete linebacker rooms in the NFL. 

Despite the success New York's defense enjoyed, they still managed to finish just 7-10 due to poor offensive play affected by the injuries to Aaron Rodgers and a majority of the offensive line. 

A 13th straight season without making the playoffs and the eighth straight season with a below .500 record has had many calls into question the effectiveness of the coaching staff. Saleh may not have been around for all 13 years, but the lack of results in his first three has only increased the frustration around Florham Park. 

To a leader like Mosley, though, the way for the Jets to change their recent woes isn't to change coaches, it's to execute better as players. 

"The things he says, I'm saying in my head. Me and him are on the same page on a lot of things," Mosley explained. "Even though I'm not as open, I know what he wants his football team to look like...he's not asking for a lot. We have to just go out there and do it."

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Mosley has been a consistent defender of Saleh over the last year. While he enters the final year of his contract with the Jets, it's clear that both the Pro Bowl linebacker and his favorite coach could be out the door soon if wins don't start racking up in 2024.