Jets' decision to stick with Robert Saleh continues to look questionable

Although the New York Jets might consider it a success that they closed out the Bill Belichick era in New England, the 71-year-old's departure is another reminder that retaining HC Robert Saleh is a mistake.

On Thursday, the New England Patriots parted ways with Belichick, making him the eighth coach to be let go this offseason and ending a 24-year stint with the franchise that culminated in six Super Bowl titles. 

With Belichick joining names like Pete Carroll, Mike Vrabel and perhaps Michigan's Jim Harbaugh as available candidates for hiring, it's fair to say that this is the greatest free-agent head-coaching class ever.

Yet, Jets owner Woody Johnson announced last month — amidst a season that started with championship aspirations and resulted in a 7-10 record — that he’d retain Saleh for 2024.

Since Saleh was hired in 2021, the Jets have the fourth-worst record in the NFL (18-33) and rank last in points scored (874). The only teams to post worse records than New York in that span are the Houston Texans, Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers, all of whom have made at least one head-coaching change. 

Nonetheless, the events of this season have put the Jets in a unique and difficult situation about how to move forward as a franchise. After trading for quarterback Aaron Rodgers last offseason, Saleh entered 2023 on a hot seat and needed results. However, since Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into his Jets debut, Saleh got a pass for another disastrous season so that he's able to coach the four-time NFL MVP.

Of course, Rodgers' feelings toward Saleh likely played a role in his retention, especially since he probably wouldn't have played for the Jets if he wasn't fond of him. While Rodgers anticipates himself being a Jet through the 2025 season, should a 40-year-old quarterback have any influence in helping determine a franchise's future, let alone as much as he's had? 

After all, the Jets went out of their way to sign several of Rodgers' old friends last offseason, including OC Nathaniel Hackett, along with WRs Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard, which went the wrong way. 

Under Hackett, the Jets averaged the second-fewest yards (268.6) and fourth-fewest points per game (15.8), while Rodgers' former Packers wideouts combined for 350 yards and $47 million in contracts. 

Moves like these highlight the structural issues the Jets have with Saleh and GM Joe Douglas at the helm. Douglas' drafting (outside of the butterfly effect selecting QB Zach Wilson second overall in 2021 caused) at least somewhat justifies his retention. 

But as much as Saleh has proven during his Jets tenure that he is capable of running a defense, he's arguably the worst head coach in the NFL.

And now that the Jets have an opportunity to rewrite the wrongs of hiring him and maximize their championship window, they'll opt to run it back with an unproven coach alongside a quarterback in his twilight years. 

Even if the Jets snap the longest current playoff drought in North American sports next season, revisionist history won't be kind about the decision to keep Saleh over several more qualified candidates without a Super Bowl.