Bill Belichick spoke to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson on Monday evening over his decision to fire coach Robert Saleh last week.
Belichick spoke with Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN’s alternate broadcast during the Jets’ 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night, completely tearing up Johnson.
“It seems like it’s too early for me to make a coaching change,” Manning said.
“Yeah, well, look, that’s what happened on the Jets,” Belichick responded. “They’ve barely won more than 30% in the last 10 years. The owner is the owner, just ready, shoot, aim.”
The Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday, just five games into the season. Saleh was appointed ahead of the 2021 season in what was his first coaching position in the league. He finished 20-36 and never had a winning season. The Jets have promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to serve as interim head coach for the time being.
The decision to fire Saleh surprised many people in the NFL world. Johnson said he felt Saleh was not meeting expectations.
“This is one of the most talented teams the New York Jets have ever assembled,” Johnson said last week. “I want to give the team the biggest chance to win this season,” [so] “I feel like we should have gone in a different direction.”
Belichick used to work for the organization, famously served as its head coach for a day before abruptly resigning, and spent more than two decades competing against Johnson while leading the New England Patriots.
Johnson purchased the Jets in 2000, the same year Belichick took his position in New England after a stint as the Jets’ defensive coordinator. In that time, Belichick — with the help of quarterback Tom Brady — has won six Super Bowls and 17 division titles. The Jets have won the AFC East once and made six playoff appearances during the same span. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2010 season and have gone eight seasons without a record.
Belichick and the Patriots split earlier this year, and he has now moved into a media role with ESPN. Naturally, this will lead to more hot shots from the head coach who has been known for his relatively cautious and abrasive demeanor.
When it comes to how the Jets are run, Belichick believes Saleh is doing a good job.
“I’m not a big Jets fan, in case you don’t know that…Coach Saleh has done a good job with this program,” Belichick said. “He brings a culture and a level of toughness and competitiveness… I think he’s done a very good job with this team, and they’re probably not that far away from winning.”
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