Unfortunately for Jets fans, the team has failed to be taken seriously for decades.
Over the last 20 years, they’ve had six winning seasons. Their last winning season came in 2015 when Todd Bowles was their first-year head coach (they went 10-6).
But then the organization, and former GM Mike Maccagnan, annihilated his chances of continuing that success in 2016 by cutting multiple veterans and drafting players that are no longer even with the team.
His two best picks, safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye, moved on. Failed quarterback experiments in Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg and Sam Darnold brought more jokes and disdain than they did victories.
Long gone are Maccagan and Bowles, the latter rather unfairly as he was hampered by the former’s poor decisions and drafting ineptitude.
But after a few key trades and drafting players like Quinnen Williams, Mekhi Becton and Zach Wilson, the Jets amassed a nucleus of talent capable of reducing the stain of their losing ways.
All they needed was a leader to bring them together.
Enter Robert Saleh.
The former 49ers defensive coordinator cultivated San Francisco’s defense into a formidable unit and the hope was he would do the same in New York.
Year one in New York was painful. The team went 4-13, a rough welcome for the first Muslim American head coach in NFL history and a coach that was used to winning in the Bay.
Then the Jets drafted Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall.
On Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the team gave fans a glimmer of hope for the future.
More importantly, Robert Saleh demonstrated the team is heading in the right direction.
At the 2022 NFL Draft, Saleh was beyond thrilled to get Gardner with the fourth-overall pick. The former Cincinnati Bearcats star is a shutdown corner teams salivate over, and he’s quickly filled the void left years ago by Darrelle Revis.
Wilson and Hall added more weapons for Wilson, who returned from a preseason injury to lead the Jets to a last-second victory over the reeling Steelers.
And while the players were given the most credit for the victory, you can’t diminish the impact of Saleh.
After the Jets’ week 1 loss to the Ravens, Saleh was slammed with questions about the team, the mistakes they made and whether they were the “same old Jets.”
You could see the fire coursing through Saleh. Yet instead of deflecting questions, he put everyone on notice.
“It’s going to happen,” Saleh told reporters. “We’re all taking receipts on all the people who continually mock and say that we’re not going to do anything. I’m taking receipts and I’m going to be more than happy to share them with all of you when all is said and done.”
With that one statement, he ushered in a new outlook for the Jets and their future.
Make fun of them at your own risk, for these are not the same old Jets; this is Robert Saleh’s Jets, and neither he nor his team are going to go out like that.
So in week 2 they shockingly beat the Browns in a game that appeared to be over. After recovering an onside kick, the team ground out an improbable victory, one which many failed to witness as they had turned the channel thinking all was lost.
After a week 3 loss to the Bengals, the team marched into Pittsburgh, endured the volcanic eruption from the crowd when Steelers’ rookie QB Kenny Pickett entered the game, and snatched the game away in the waning seconds to win 24-20.
The Jets are reflecting the attitude of their head coach, and showing that they will never quit regardless of the score or situation.
This week, they return home to face a tough Dolphins squad who will be without starting QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Many doubt Gang Green can stop Tyreek Hill and a tough Dolphins defense, but that doesn’t phase Saleh and his squad. They’re used to the doubt and are learning to persevere.
“To weather the storm and show the resilience to come back again on the road….awesome,” said a proud Saleh on Sunday afternoon.
If the Jets continue to follow Saleh’s lead, they’ll improve upon the four wins from last season.
If management gives Saleh the support and commitment they failed to give Bowles, the team and their head coach will be fervently embraced by a loyal fan base thirsting for victories.
And, most importantly, New York will joyfully accumulate receipts all season.
