Aaron Rodgers returns to the New York Jets in what’s likely a make-or-break year for Robert Saleh.
The Jets have posted winning records in each of Saleh’s three seasons, but the head coach will return after losing his MVP quarterback during the 2023 season’s opening drive. Rodgers claimed the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator is assuming a more hands-on approach.
Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Rodgers told reporters this week that Saleh is “taking a deeper role in the offense.”
“As a defensive coach, he’s been in that room a lot, but he’s been kind of sitting over to the left of me a good amount of the offseason so far,” Rodgers said. “So we appreciate his influence. He’s brought some really good ideas to the table.”
The Jets brought Rodgers’ former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, to New York to serve the same role. Without Rodgers, Gang Green finished 31st in total offense and 29th in scoring.
New York hasn’t ranked higher than 25th in total offense since Ryan Fitzpatrick tossed 31 touchdowns under first-year head coach Todd Bowles in 2015. They have finished the last five seasons in the bottom five of scoring.
According to Cimini, Saleh began to take more ownership of the Jets offense late in the 2023 season. He adjusted a more “regimented” system tailored for Rodgers that didn’t work so well for Zach Wilson.
In their second offseason together, Saleh has offered Rodgers and the offense more pointers from the defense’s perspective.
“He’s added a lot of interesting stuff that you’ll see throughout the OTAs and training camp, which I think would be pretty cool for us,” Rodgers said.
The Jets will open the 2024 season against Saleh’s former team when facing the 49ers in Week 1.