Aaron Rodgers emphatically denied playing any part in Robert Saleh’s dismissal from the Jets on Tuesday.
And he took a moment Wednesday to show his support for his now-former head coach.
“As far as any of the ridiculous allegations out there, I’m not gonna spend more than one sentence in response to it,” Rodgers said on his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “And 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.”
The Jets fired Saleh on Tuesday after two straight embarrassing losses, with the team owning a 2-3 record.
Saleh owned a 20-36 overall record in three-plus seasons in charge.
The Jets are promoting defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich to serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the year, starting with a “Monday Night Football” clash with the Bills.
Owner Woody Johnson said on a conference call on Tuesday that the decision was his and that Rodgers did not play any part.
“This is one of the most-talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets,” Johnson said. “I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today. The change that we made today, that I made, I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now.
“I’ve been doing this for 25 years now. This is probably the best team I’ve had. I just felt that the best way to go forward with a new direction and taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance to do what we all want to, which is going to the playoffs.”
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He said that he spoke with Rodgers on Monday after Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Vikings in London, but that the two didn’t talk about Saleh and that Rodgers had no impact on the decision.
“Yeah, I did talk to Woody,” Rodgers said Wednesday. “Woody called me on Monday night. We had a short conversation. I appreciated the call. It was a genuine call. He just asked me how I was doing. Obviously, I got rolled up on in the game, my ankle got pretty banged up, so he was just calling and asking how I was doing.
“We talked about the game and how disappointed I was in my performance, that I’m gonna play better and that we’re gonna get this thing turned around. And then, we hung up. At that point, Woody has no obligation to let me know what his plans are. Whether or not he knew what he was doing in that moment is inconsequential.”
Rodgers, who pushed back his McAfee appearance from Tuesday to Wednesday in light of the news, had vehemently defended his relationship with Saleh in recent weeks.
He continued that sentiment on Wednesday, praising Saleh for being a “family man.”
“I love Coach Saleh,” Rodgers said. “We have a very solid relationship. We have since I met him in 2021, had a nice conversation when they came and visited [The Packers] for joint practices. He was a big reason why I came to the Jets. … It was just a reminder yesterday how tough the business is.”
Saleh himself released a statement on Wednesday as well.
“To the Jets Organization, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people,” Saleh said. “I will always be appreciative of the love and support from everyone at 1 Jets Drive.
“To all of the players, I truly love and appreciate every single one of you. The character of the men in the locker room made coaching you guys the ultimate privilege. Through all the ups and downs, each and every one of you showed up everyday and attacked every moment.
“To my fellow coaches and staff, it has been an honor to work with all of you,” Saleh said. “Every one of you were ‘all in’ and made sacrifices for one another that will never be forgotten. I wish you all the very best of luck for the remainder of the season.”