Jets fire head coach Robert Saleh two days after loss to Vikings

The Jets will go to battle with an interim head coach with first place on the line Monday night.

Oct 6, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New York Jets coach Robert Saleh (left) and Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell shake hands after the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

No team has been successful against the Minnesota Vikings through five weeks, which is why Tuesday's news of head coach Robert Saleh being fired by the New York Jets goes down as an all-time stunner.

Saleh's Jets are 2-3 and nearly came back from a 20-0 hole before ultimately succumbing to the Vikings in a 23-17 loss. New York's defense held Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in check while stuffing Minnesota's run game and applying immense pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold.

More shocking is that New York's offense, despite three interceptions from Aaron Rodgers, found some much-needed rhythm against a defense that might be the best in the NFL. Rodgers connected with Garrett Wilson 13 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.

Jefferson had 92 yards on six catches, but he was targeted 14 times on a day that Darnold completed fewer than half of his 31 attempts (14 completions). Sauce Gardner and DJ Reed balled out and made life very difficult on Minnesota's star-studded offense.

Since the 2021 season, Robert Saleh's first in New York, the Jets defense is

1st in points per drive
1st in EPA per play
3rd in success rate

...despite playing the fourth-most snaps over that stretch.

Saleh never solved the QB problem, but man. He delivered on defense.

— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 8, 2024

The Jets were pounded by the 49ers in Week 1 before back-to-back wins against the Titans and Patriots. A disastrous 10-9 loss to the Broncos in Week 4 at home might've put one nail in Saleh's coffin, and the loss to the Vikings in London served as the final naii.

What's interesting, however, is that the Broncos might actually be good. Not only did they win at the Jets, but they also took down the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay and won a third straight game Sunday at home against the Raiders. Sean Payton and Bo Nix quietly have the Broncos at 3-2 and in the playoff race in the AFC.

The Jets, meanwhile, will go to battle with interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who gets promoted from his defensive coordinator role. Ulbrich, Rodgers and the Jets will now battle the Bills on Monday night for first place in the AFC East.