Robert Saleh had heartbreaking one-word reaction to New York Jets firing

Robert Saleh was reportedly caught off guard when New York Jets owner Woody Johnson handed him his marching orders on Tuesday morning, terminating his role as head coach just five games into the season's fourth quarter.

Speaking to Fox Sports, Saleh said that he was "blindsided" by the day's developments as he entered the Jets premises with intentions of prepping his squad for their upcoming face-off against the Buffalo Bills.

However, a summons to Johnson's office saw his aspirations thwarted and was replaced on the spot by defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, who will assume the position of interim head coach until the season's conclusion.

Sources at SNY revealed that it wasn't only Saleh who was shaken by the sudden change; the players and coaching staff alike were equally taken aback by the news. The underdog Jets are sporting a 2-3 record thus far, yet a victory against the Bills in Week 6 could propel them to the top of the AFC East division standings.

Having joined the Jets in 2021 on a five-year agreement, Saleh has been unable to yield a winning season across all three years of his stewardship. His run with the Jets came to an end with a scorecard showing 20 wins to 36 losses, with the recent dismissal .

Despite a rocky beginning marred by inconsistency for the Jets this season, highlighted by an initial defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, morale was realigned following triumphant wins against both the Tennessee Titans and the New England Patriots.

Despite their strong ambitions, the Jets' performance dwindled, culminating in a defeat against the Denver Broncos that saw them level out at .500.

A dashed hope for a comeback in London versus the Minnesota Vikings marked Salehs last outing as head coach. After pulling off a major trade for Rodgers the previous season with the notion of immediate success, the team recognises that the clock is ticking on the four-time MVPs illustrious career.

Rodgers' first season with the Jets ended prematurely due to a torn Achilles in Week 1, impeding his ability to get into an offensive rhythm in 2023. Even though the team transitioned from a defensive specialist in the head coaching position to another, cohesion on the field still appeared elusive.

Rumours swirled of friction between Rodgers and Saleh, yet both maintained there was no rift. "We're really good friends," admitted Rodgers.

"We enjoy each other. We spend time almost every day in his office talking about things and talking about the energy of the team, focus of the team and what we need to get done, how I can help him out, how he can help me out. So we've got a great relationship."

Following a tumble to a dismal. 400 after Week 5, Saleh's response to media pressure unwittingly foretold his departure.

"Pressure? In New York?" he quipped with a smile. "You could be an expansion team, and it's the same amount of pressure. It doesn't matter. You have to win. It's New York; the expectation is to win. When you win, you're going to the Super Bowl. When you lose, fire everybody."