Reactions have been flooding in since the New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday.
While the opinions and hot takes from sports media and NFL fans may be entertaining, they don’t hold the same significance as the players’ perspectives. The athletes who worked closely with Saleh have a unique insight into the situation.
As quarterback Aaron Rodgers mentioned during his interview on The Pat McAfee Show, there’s a definite “human aspect” to the decision.
Though many speculated about Rodgers’ involvement in Saleh’s dismissal, his primary concern was for Saleh’s family. It’s evident that Saleh had a meaningful impact on his players.
Rodgers wasn’t alone in expressing his feelings. Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Sauce Gardner, who formed a strong bond with Saleh after being drafted in 2022, also shared his thoughts on the firing.
In a conversation with ESPN’s Kimberly Martin on Thursday, Gardner gave an emotional response to the news.
Before Saleh’s dismissal, many Jets fans likely favored parting ways with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett instead. So far this season, it’s been the offense that has hindered the Jets’ performance.
Defensively, Saleh and now-interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich had built a solid unit, which came as no surprise. The real problem was that Saleh didn’t strip Hackett of his play-calling responsibilities soon enough.
Just two days later, Ulbrich made that tough call himself. Like many fans, Gardner probably felt that the offense, led by Hackett, was the main issue due to its lack of adaptability. Yet Hackett remains with the team, while Saleh is gone.
This outcome feels unfair to many, adding to the shock surrounding Saleh’s firing.
As the Jets gear up for Week 6 against their division rival, the Buffalo Bills, on Monday Night Football, Gardner mentioned that some players will still be playing in honor of their former coach.