Concern Grows for Robert Saleh During Monday Night Football

The New York Jets (0-1) entered Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers (1-0) brimming with hope and optimism. For once, even the Jets had every reason to feel that way.

Aaron Rodgers was back, making his first start since tearing his Achilles after just a few plays last season. The offensive line—last year's biggest weakness—had been rebuilt through the draft and free agency. With skilled playmakers surrounding Rodgers and a defense expected to be the backbone of the team's success, the Jets were poised to turn the page.

However, the game started much like last year's infamous opener: with the Jets going three-and-out on their first drive, only this time without Rodgers suffering another season-ending injury. They did manage to force the 49ers to punt after three plays on the ensuing drive, but the Jets fumbled on their very next play, setting up the 49ers for a field goal. Rodgers then led a 12-play drive to put the Jets ahead 7-3, briefly restoring hope.

Apart from a late third-quarter 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard—an iconic Rodgers free play that capitalized on a Leonard Floyd offsides penalty—it was all 49ers after that.

Outside of the two scoring drives—excluding a garbage-time touchdown led by Tyrod Taylor—the Jets were either punting or turning the ball over. Rodgers himself threw an interception, and the 49ers scored on eight of their nine drives in the game.

This isn’t the ideal start to head coach Robert Saleh's fourth season with the Jets. Facing his former team on Monday, Saleh had plenty to prove with expectations once again set high for the return of Rodgers. Yet, one game into the 2024 season, things appear eerily similar to what they have always been under Saleh.

Despite having the No. 3 total defense in the league last season—a hallmark of Saleh's coaching expertise—the Jets allowed the 49ers to rack up over 409 yards of offense and 24 first downs. And this was without the 49ers' best player, running back Christian McCaffrey, who was a late scratch. His replacement, Jordan Mason, rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries.

"Starting to think the guy with the 18-33 record as a head coach might be part of the problem," Kevin Clark of This Is Football wrote.

Clark was referencing Saleh’s record with the Jets, which dropped to 18-34 after Monday night’s 32-19 loss to the 49ers.

ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, a die-hard Jets fan, echoed a similar sentiment.

"Aaron Rodgers looks fine," Greenberg said. "Robert Saleh, Joe Douglas, not so much. #Niners are elite, but you at least wanted #Jets to look in their weight class. On this night, they certainly were not. Outcoached, outmanned, outplayed, outfought. Just deflating."

For a Jets team that has missed the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons, this feels like more of the same. It’s a rough start for a team carrying high expectations. Every game this season will likely serve as a referendum on Saleh's job performance.

Next week, Saleh, Rodgers, and the Jets will hit the road to face the Tennessee Titans (0-1).