Much like the rest of the NFL community, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was “pretty shocked” to hear of Robert Saleh’s firing Tuesday as head coach of the Jets.
When asked about the bombshell news coming out of Florham Park, Shanahan — who hired Saleh as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2017 when he became the head coach — said he was taken aback by the move given the Jets aren’t out of the divisional race yet at 2-3.
“I sent him a text, but I haven’t gotten to talk to him,” Shanahan said, according to Pro Football Talk. “And yeah, I was pretty shocked. That stuff throws you off, especially when they’re competing for first in the division this week and I think they’re up there on defense and have got a pretty good team and a chance to have a hell of a year. So that was pretty surprising.”
The Jets entered the season with playoff aspirations following the anticipated return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles injury just four plays into his Jets career in 2023.
Upon dropping their season opener to the 49ers, the Jets bounced back in Weeks 2 and 3 to improve to 2-1.
Things took a dismal turn in Week 4 when the Jets were embarrassed at home by the Bo Nix-led Broncos in a 10-9 loss, where Gang Green’s offense never found the end zone.
Team owner Woody Johnson “was fuming” after the loss to Denver, sources told The Post’s Brian Costello, and wanted changes from his coach.
Saleh coached his final game with the team on Sunday, a 23-17 defeat in London to the Vikings, now led by New York’s former quarterback, Sam Darnold.
Johnson said in a statement Tuesday he felt “now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.”
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“When I take a look at this team, I’ve been doing this for 25 years now, and this is probably the best team I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson said Tuesday in a conference call. “And I just felt that the best way to go forward was a new direction. I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance that we all want to have, which is going to the playoffs.”
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has since been named interim head coach and is now tasked with taking down the divisional rival Bills in prime time on “Monday Night Football.”
“With the talent that we have in that room, in my opinion, we have everything we need to be successful and have the season that we know we’re capable of having,” Ulbrich said Tuesday.
As for Saleh, who was originally hired by the Jets in 2021 after four seasons with the Niners, he’s planning to take time away with his family before the next hiring cycle in 2025.
Saleh posted a 20-36 record as the Jets’ head coach.