Former NFL running back Jamaal Charles believes that the New York Jets' struggles cannot be solely attributed to head coach Robert Saleh, who was fired on Tuesday. Charles places the blame on poor quarterback play and believes that Saleh did not have the necessary support at that position.
Former NFL All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles has weighed in on the firing of New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, expressing sympathy for Saleh while also acknowledging the challenges he faced with quarterback play.
After back-to-back losses, Saleh was abruptly fired on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the NFL. Charles believes that Saleh's fate was largely due to the Jets' persistent quarterback woes.
Jamaal Charles Defends Fired Jets Coach Saleh, Blames Quarterback Play
"The last couple years, they haven't been playing so well, but it had a lot to do with the quarterback play. He didn't have some of the best quarterbacks, now they got Aaron [Rodgers] at the back end of his career," Charles told Fox News Digital.
The Jets have struggled to find consistency at quarterback since Charles' retirement in 2015. They have cycled through several mediocre options, including Zach Wilson, Tim Boyle, and Mike White. The arrival of Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer, has raised expectations, but the team is still searching for its first victory under Rodgers.
Jamaal Charles Defends Fired Jets Coach Saleh, Blames Quarterback Play
Despite the team's struggles, Charles believes that firing Saleh was premature. He argues that Saleh should not be held solely responsible for the Jets' failures, as the quarterback play has been a major factor.
"I feel bad for him, because it's not all his fault," Charles said. "The Jets, it's not up to my standard for play-calling, but you have to start with him because he's the leader of the team. If you're gonna fire anybody, you're going to fire the leader."
Jamaal Charles Defends Fired Jets Coach Saleh, Blames Quarterback Play
The Jets' offense has been particularly abysmal under Saleh, ranking among the worst in the NFL in several key statistical categories. Charles believes that the struggles on that side of the ball cannot be ignored.
"They haven't been playing so well, so the [offensive] coordinator was next. Now they got rid of the head coach, so the quarterback's next," Charles said. "It has a lot to do with the quarterback play, and the coordinator, and the head coach. You've got to put it on them."
With Saleh out, the Jets now enter a new era with Nathaniel Hackett as their interim head coach. Charles believes that Hackett, who previously served as the Broncos' head coach, has his work cut out for him.
"Nathaniel Hackett, he's got a tough job. He's got to come in and get these guys fired up and ready to play," Charles said. "They got a lot of talent on that team, so they can turn it around."
Charles, who currently partners with Tide as part of their "Best Smelling Product" campaign, is optimistic about the Jets' future but believes that they need to make significant improvements on offense.
"I think they can turn it around. They got the talent," Charles said. "They just gotta put it all together."
