NFL Rumors: Aaron Rodgers Knew Jets Owner Was 'Contemplating' Robert Saleh Firing

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was reportedly aware that Robert Saleh was on the hot seat before he got fired as head coach on Tuesday.

On Wednesday's episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Rodgers knew Jets owner Woody Johnson was "contemplating" moving on from Saleh.

Johnson said during his press conference after Saleh was fired on Tuesday that he spoke with Rodgers on Monday night but not about Saleh. The Jets owner also emphasized that the decision to make a coaching change was his alone.

Russini, Zack Rosenblatt and Mark Puleo reported on Tuesday that some Jets players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, had grown "frustrated" with the "lack of accountability" taking place as the offense continued to struggle like it has in past years.

The idea of accountability is one that popped up recently in a public back and forth between Saleh and Rodgers. Saleh expressed some displeasure with Rodgers' pre-snap cadence in a Week 4 loss to the Denver Broncos when the Jets were called for five false-start penalties.

"We've got to figure it out, whether or not we're good enough or ready to handle all the cadence," Saleh said. "Cadence had not been an issue all camp. Felt like our operation had been operating pretty good. Obviously, today it took a major step back."

During his postgame press conference after the Broncos' loss, Rodgers didn't seem too enthused when asked about potentially scaling back his cadence.

"That's one way to do it," he said. "The other way is to hold them (players) accountable."

Saleh did walk back his initial comments the day after that game, saying during a videoconference with reporters the cadence is "part of what makes us who we are, and we're going to continue to always push the envelope on that."

Rodgers and Saleh didn't seem to have a particularly warm dynamic this season. There was the awkward moment on the sideline during the Week 3 win against the New England Patriots when Saleh went in for a hug after a touchdown, but Rodgers pushed him in the chest.

Saleh said after the game the coaching staff preached to the offense throughout the week about the importance of getting out to a two-score lead, and Rodgers "just wanted to see something on defense" after they achieved that goal.

Whatever the full circumstances that led to Saleh's firing were, the only thing that matters for Rodgers and the Jets now is playing better as they try to challenge for a playoff spot in the AFC.

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has a tough test in his first game when the Jets host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football with the winner being in first place in the AFC East.