The Jets have fired head coach Robert Saleh.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will take over for Saleh on an interim basis.

SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes reports that most in the Jets' orbit were stunned by Saleh's dismissal, noting that they did not see it coming.

"This morning, I informed Robert Saleh that he will no longer serve as the Head Coach of the Jets," owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. "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.

"Jeff Ulbrich will serve as our Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season. He is a tough coach who has the respect of the coaches and players on this team. I believe he along with the coaches on this staff can get the most out of our talented team and attain the goals we established this offseason."

The front office, Saleh, and the players got an understandable pass after a disappointing 2023 campaign where Aaron Rodgers was lost for the year in the first series of Week 1 due to a torn Achilles.

With Rogers back this season, the Jets entered the year as one of the Super Bowl favorites. But the Jets are just 2-3 after five games, and are coming off a frustrating loss to the Vikings in London.

Despite the Jets' uneven start to the season, they are only 1.0 game behind the Bills for first place in the AFC East, and a half game back of the Chargers for the final Wild Card spot.

The season had not been a smooth one for Saleh, with Rodgers frustrated at times, Garrett Wilson often unhappy with his role, and the offense not clicking for the most part.

During his tenure in New York from 2021 to 2024, Saleh led the Jets to a 20-36 record.

After a 4-13 season in 2021, the Jets went 7-10 in both 2022 and 2023 before starting this campaign 2-3.

Saleh was in the fourth year of a five-year contract that runs through 2025.

While Saleh has taken the fall, the roster that has been built by GM Joe Douglas has not meshed yet to the point where New York is a legitimate contender.

The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010, when they lost to the Steelers in the AFC title game. New York can still end that drought this season, but it won't be with Saleh at the helm.

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