The New York Jets’ crushing 10-9 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday has sparked significant backlash, with much of the blame being placed on head coach Robert Saleh. Former Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody didn’t hold back during his appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on Monday, directing a fiery critique at Saleh for what he called a “bad freaking loss.”
Woody, who played for the Jets from 2008 until his retirement in 2011, went after Saleh for the team’s sloppy performance, which included a staggering 13 penalties—five of which were false starts. The penalty-plagued game, according to Woody, reflected a lack of discipline and poor preparation, which he squarely attributed to Saleh’s coaching.
“What the hell is going on, Robert?” Woody asked. “This team looks sloppy, they look inept. I mean, what are we doing here? This is supposed to be a game where the Jets were clearly supposed to win, and your team can’t stay onside? This is clearly on coaching.”
The defeat, especially coming at home against a Denver squad the Jets were expected to beat, only fueled Woody’s frustrations. He called out the coaching staff for failing to have the team mentally and physically prepared, particularly in managing Aaron Rodgers’ famous cadence, which played a role in the Jets’ penalties.
Saleh acknowledged the team’s struggles with the cadence in his postgame remarks, suggesting the team might need to adjust. “We’ve got to figure it out, whether or not we’re good enough or ready to handle all the cadence,” Saleh said. “It took a major step back.”
Rodgers, who is known for using his cadence to draw opposing defenses offside, had a different perspective on the issue. The four-time MVP emphasized the importance of holding players accountable rather than making drastic changes to their approach. “That’s one way to do it,” Rodgers said of adjusting the cadence. “The other way is to hold them accountable.”
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Woody, who had a 12-year NFL career with the Patriots, Lions, and Jets, stressed how Rodgers’ cadence has been a vital part of his success. “How many times through Aaron Rodgers’ career have we seen him use the cadence, draw teams offside, and then, all of a sudden, a big play happens?” Woody said. “We see that time and time again with Aaron Rodgers, and then you’re going to come out in the postgame and say, ‘Oh, because our guys can’t stay onside maybe we shouldn’t use it?’ B.S., figure it out.”
Woody wasn’t alone in his criticism of Saleh. Sports media personalities across the board voiced their discontent with the Jets’ performance.
Longtime New York sports radio host Mike Francesa said the Jets were “so badly prepared mentally and physically” and went so far as to call Saleh a “fool” for how he handled the game. ESPN’s Mike Greenberg echoed the sentiment, posting on X (formerly Twitter) that the Jets are “a very, very badly coached football team,” warning that poor coaching “will very likely be their undoing.”
The loss dropped the Jets to a 2-2 record, and with a pivotal stretch of their schedule ahead, the pressure on Saleh is only mounting. Next up, the Jets will travel to London to face the undefeated Minnesota Vikings (4-0) and their former quarterback Sam Darnold. The following week, they’ll host the 3-1 Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, a game that could make or break their season.
With the fanbase and media now openly questioning Saleh’s leadership, the Jets find themselves at a crossroads.
Whether they can regroup and turn their season around remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the spotlight is on Robert Saleh, and he’ll need to make adjustments quickly to avoid further scrutiny.
