Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell reacts during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Jets last weekend in London by a score of 23-17.
Two days later, the Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh, a curious and bold move as New York’s defense is a Top 6 bunch through five weeks.
And shortly after, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell joined ESPN’s Pat McAfee Show to talk about his team’s unblemished 5-0 start, and it didn’t take long for McAfee to pick O’Connell’s brain about Saleh’s termination.
“I think Robert Saleh is a great football coach,” O’Connell replied. “There’s a reason why he’s had the success that he’s had in this league before this job. He’ll have success after this job. think very highly of Robert the man, the person. He’ll get back up on his feet.”
The Jets produced a 20-36 (.357) record on Saleh’s watch, the NFL’s third-worst mark during the timeframe, 2021 to Week 5 of 2024.
O’Connell also added perspective about job security in the NFL. “Like I said, we all know what we signed up for, this is an incredibly competitive league. We know what the task is every single day you show up to work as a head coach in the National Football League,” he added. “Doesn’t make it any easier as a fellow head coach to see news like that. I’ll certainly be thinking about him and his family, but I know he’s going to be just fine.”
New York never truly nailed down the QB1 spot with Saleh in charge, vacillating between failed draft picks like Zach Wilson and Mike White and veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Trevor Siemian. Many believed last year that the Jets merely needed a competent quarterback to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024, but even with Rodgers in the saddle, New York is in the same spot as last season — a 2-3 record while scoring just 93 points.
Since Saleh’s hire, the Jets rank 13th on defense per EPA/Play and 32nd on offense.
The Saleh termination is also fascinating from a Vikings perspective because there’s a reasonable chance that the organization will need a defensive coordinator next offseason.
Minnesota’s current defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, is turning heads again around the business, showcasing the NFL’s best defense, and could garner head coaching attention in 3-4 months. If he leaves for a head coach position, Minnesota will need a replacement coordinator, and Saleh would be a realistic option, though the defense would likely have to revert to a 4-3 system.
The Jets promoted defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in Saleh’s stead.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.