On January 14, 2021, the New York Jets took it upon themselves to hire a new head coach. Former HC Adam Gase simply wasn’t cutting it, finishing 9-23 in his two seasons, and set the franchise back a couple of years. Robert Saleh signed a 5-year contract to be the next man in charge. Another interesting fact was that this hire was made by GM Joe Douglas and not the incompetent Johnsons in the front office. Sure, they had the final say but it was Douglas’ idea. Also, Saleh was given the rein to pick out the entire coaching staff. He brought in Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator and Jeff Ulbrich as defensive coordinator while retaining Brant Boyer as the special teams coach. What Saleh hopes to bring to this team is discipline, which has been lacking for many years since the Rex Ryan days. He also brings a passion for the game and would be a great motivator to the players on the team.
Saleh’s first coaching job came when he was the defensive assistant at Michigan State from 2002-2003. He then became a defensive assistant for Central Michigan in 2004 before moving to Georgia, working the same role in 2005. He entered the realm of coaching in the NFL during the 2005 season as a defensive intern for the Houston Texans. In 2006, the Texans promoted him to defensive quality control coach. He remained in that position through the 2008 season and was yet again promoted to assistant linebackers coach from 2009-2010. In 2011, the Seattle Seahawks offered him a better position as defensive quality control coach through the 2013 season and a part of the coaching staff that won Super Bowl XLVIII.
From 2014-2016, he was the linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His big break came in 2017 when he got the defensive coordinator job for the San Francisco 49ers and transformed their defense from near the bottom of the league to a top 5 defense. In the 2019 season, the 49ers took on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV but fell short. Still an amazing accomplishment by that defense. He remained as the defensive coordinator through the end of the 2020 season. Now, the Jets have given him his first head coaching job where he impressed many at his press conference with the line, “All gas and no brake.”
This catchphrase was the most exciting line out of the mouth of a Jets head coach since Rex Ryan said that he didn’t come here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings, he came here to win. Saleh instills that same mentality that the Jets have been lacking desperately over the past decade. He looks like the one to end the Jets long playoff drought. Just maybe he will deliver a second Lombardi trophy.
However, one major decision that has to be made is what to do with QB Sam Darnold. Do you give him another year to prove himself or would it be better for him to get a fresh start elsewhere and trade for Deshaun Watson? His last game against the Patriots was not inspiring at all as he threw two ill-advised throws that ended up being intercepted. In his three years as Jets quarterback, he has only shown greatness in flashes, they have not been seen consistently. It appears as though he has gotten worse during his tenure with the Jets but maybe with the proper coaching, he will finally take off in 2021. Get excited Jets fans...it looks like you got yourselves one hell of a coach...J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!!!
-Jack Henry Cicio 
The new man in charge, Robert Saleh
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