It’s safe to say that Bill Belichick is not interested in the head coaching position of the New York Jet after meeting owner Woody Johnson on Monday night.
The former head coach of the New England Patriots joined Peyton and Eli Manning on their ESPN simulcast for Monday Night Football as the Jets lost to the Buffalo Bills in their first game without head coach Robert Saleh.
The Jets announced last Tuesday that Saleh had been fired as head coach just five games into his fourth season at the helm.
Belichick, who previously worked for the franchise, famously serving a day as head coach before resigning, spoke to Johnson about the decision during his guest appearance on ManningCast this week.
“It seemed kind of early to make a coaching change,” Peyton said.
Bill Belichick (L) contacted New York Jets owner Woody Johnson (R) on ManningCast on Monday.
“Yeah, well see, that’s kind of what it was there with the Jets,” Belichick responded. ‘They have barely gained more than 30 percent in the last ten years. The owner is the owner, just ready, shoot, aim.’
Johnson had explained that he felt a coaching change was necessary to maximize his players’ potential and end the franchise’s playoff drought.
The Jets have failed to reach the postseason since 2011, when they lost the AFC Championship game, something Johnson had hoped to correct when he appointed Saleh in 2021.
However, Saleh, who became the NFL’s first-ever Muslim-American head coach when he joined the Jets, leaves with a dismal 20-36 record after failing to make the playoffs in each of his three full seasons.
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich took over head coaching duties for Monday’s game against the Bills and will lead the floundering franchise for the rest of the season.
However, Belichick did not criticize Saleh’s performance in the role and praised the former head coach.
“I’m not a big Jets fan, in case you can’t tell… Coach Saleh has done a good job with that program,” Belichick said.
Robert Saleh was fired as head coach of the Jets last week, just four games into the season
Belichick previously worked for the Jets, serving as head coach for a day before resigning
“He brought a culture, a level of strength and competitiveness… I thought he did a pretty good job with this team, and they’re probably not that far away from winning.”
Johnson bought the Jets in 2000 — the same year Belichick took over in New England after a stint as the Jets’ defensive coordinator.
Belichick led the Patriots against the Jets in the AFC East for 20 years and won six Super Bowl titles with the help of Tom Brady.
Meanwhile, the Jets have won the AFC East just once and made six playoff appearances in that same span.