The New York Jets surprisingly fired head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday. The decision to move on from the coach is not necessarily unexpected, but the timing of it is shocking. If they were to make the call, why didn't it happen in the offseason?
Had it happened in January, the Green Bay Packers could have hired Saleh as their defensive coordinator. Now, after five weeks, it's too late for that. But is it impossible for Matt LaFleur to hire his close friend? Not necessarily.
Track record
The Packers have an example of what could happen during the season. In 2022, the Detroit Lions fired defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant during the season, and Matt LaFleur, who had a previous connection with Pleasant, hired him to an interesting role.
Instead of adding Pleasant to the defense, Matt LaFleur brought him in as an offensive consultant. It was a low-key position, but Pleasant's defensive mind was helpful for LaFleur to build gameplans, for instance, especially because Pleasant was working for a divisional rival and had studied the Packers' offense from an outside perspective.
Then, after that season, Aubrey Pleasant moved on and signed with the Los Angeles Rams to be, once again, a defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator — this year, he has been promoted to assistant head coach.
Obvious connection
LaFleur and Saleh are really close friends. It was the former Jets head coach that mentioned LaFleur's name for Gary Kubiak, and the former Houston Texans head coach gave LaFleur his first NFL shot.
It happened when Kyle Shanahan was the Texans' offensive coordinator, and LaFleur's career evolved from that point on.
Matt LaFleur could certainly have hired Robert Saleh as the Packers defensive coordinator, but the timing didn't allow it.
Now, it all depends on what Saleh wants to do with his career . If he wants a time off, it would be completely understandable — he will still be making money on his Jets' contract, so that's not a big issue for him. But if Saleh wants to get back into the game as soon as possible, Green Bay would be a perfect fit.
Saleh could be a consultant for the defense, working alongside Jeff Hafley to build gameplans, or he could even replicate Aubrey Pleasant's role as a defensive-minded offensive advisor to help LaFleur attack his own weaknesses to upgrade his gameplans and playcallings.
Robert Saleh's experience as a head coach didn't work out as he would hope, but he is still one of the bright defensive minds around the NFL. His relationship with Matt LaFleur is strong, and a reunion could make sense for everyone involved — even if the defensive coordinator position isn't on the table at this point.
Related: 25 potential NFL head coaches for 2025
Local News
Comments / 0