One day a week, every week, for the past five seasons of The Pat McAfee Show, Aaron Rodgers makes an appearance, often times needing to address whatever controversy involves him that week. The elephant in the room this week? The Jets seemingly abrupt firing of now-former Head Coach Robert Saleh.
McAfee wasted no time on Wednesday laying out the swarm of narratives surrounding the recent head coach change for Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers to address, most notably that Rodgers “…got Coach Saleh fired.” and that he “Hates the guy (Saleh)”
Rodgers began his response by emphasizing what fans hear often which is that the league is very simply a business.
“Yesterday was a day that reminds you of the simple fact that all of us who have played know all too well, that it’s a tough business.” Rodgers said to kick off his appearance “I love coach Saleh; we have a very solid relationship, and we have since I met him in 2021.”
The Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday, following two tough losses and a 2-3 start to the season. Saleh tallied a 20-36 overall record in his three-year stint as Head Coach. Saleh was reportedly escorted out of the building by security Tuesday and was not allowed to address his now former players. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been promoted to interim head coach as the Jets attempt to get back on track.
“I think that what people can forget in this is that not only is Robert a fantastic human being and a damn good football coach, he’s also a family man. He’s got seven kids; he’s got an incredible wife” The Jets QB emphasized. ” So, anybody who is championing this decision, I would just appeal to the humanity of the situation and remind you there are other people involved.”
When focus shifted to the accusation that Aaron Rodgers may have had involvement with the firing, the quarterback kept things short and sweet.
“I’m not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it. That is that I resent any of those accusations because they are patently false. It’s Interesting the amount of power that people think that I have, which I don’t. I love Robert.”
Saleh broke his silence on the firing early Wednesday morning with a statement he released to the media:
The Jets’ new coaching regime will debut on Monday Night Football when the Bills come to MetLife on October 14th.
Written By: Raven Ullah, WUFO Intern
