The New York Jets remained patient with head coach Robert Saleh minus Aaron Rodgers for most of 2023. That patience ran out Tuesday, with the team firing Saleh five games into the 2024 season.
The defensive-minded Saleh leaves the Jets with a 20-36 record (.357), as the Jets have started 2-3 with a healthy Rodgers after going 7-10 in the previous two seasons.
For now, he’ll be replaced by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, but here’s looking at the best full-time coaching candidates for 2025 and beyond.
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Jets’ best coaching replacements for fired Robert Saleh
Bill Belchick, former Patriots and Jets head coach (age: 72)
Belichick was the 12th head coach of the Jets for a day, resigning as soon as he was introduced to replace long-time mentor Bill Parcells in 2000. He went on to become the winningest coach in the Super Bowl era with the rival New England Patriots.
Belichick is on a media career path post-retirement, with the ManningCast and the “Let’s Go” podcast among his ventures. He may be content staying away from the game and enjoying life, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from thinking he wouldn’t welcome a chance to work with an elite defense and another all-time great QB, trying to take a well-built team to new heights to further stamp his Hall of Fame career.
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Aaron Glenn, Lions defensive coordinator (age: 52)
Glenn started his career as a star cornerback with the Jets and has been awesome firing up a young defense in Detroit. Glenn’s concepts would keep the loaded unit strong with the pass rush and coverage while boosting the run-stopping. He also would bring a lot of needed player energy to New York.
Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator and former Dolphins coach (age: 42)
With all due respect to Sam Darnold and Kevin O’Connell, Flores’ scheming of a reinforced unit is the biggest reason why the Vikings are a surprise 5-0, including the domination of the Jets that led to Saleh’s firing. Flores deserves another shot in the division, and this would be fantastic for the defense, too.
Mike Vrabel, former Titans head coach (age: 49)
If you can’t get Belichick back to the NFL, then it’s key to lure his top former player surrogate back to coaching an AFC team after overachieving with the Titans.
Bobby Slowik, Texans offensive coordinator (age: 47)
Slowik has been an extension of the Kyle Shanahan offense with Matt LaFleur and Mike McDaniel adjacency, and he would be a solid fit with Rodgers or any young QB.
Adam Stenavich, Packers offensive coordinator (age: 41)
He’s done a great job working with LaFleur and has some strong past Packers experience with Rodgers there. Heck, if Rodgers is forcing the team to keep bad OC Nathaniel Hackett, it can’t be ruled out that he convinces them to pluck this rising star early.
Ben Johnson, Lions offensive coordinator (age: 38)
Johnson had chances to become a head coach in the 2024 hiring cycle, but Detroit should be thrilled he returned to take its attack to a new level. Johnson should be a target of Woody Johnson, too.