Video: Jets' Aaron Rodgers Refutes 'Ridiculous' Rumors He Had Role in Saleh's Firing

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers denied having any involvement in the organization's decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday.

Appearing Wednesday on The Pat McAfee Show (h/t SNY's Connor Hughes), Rodgers called the notion that he played a role in Saleh's firing "ridiculous" and "patently false."

Per Hughes, Rodgers went on to call the NFL a "tough business" before saying he "loves" Saleh and has a "solid relationship" with him. Rodgers also said Saleh was a major factor in him wanting to get traded to the Jets in the first place.

After a 2-1 start to the season, the Jets looked disjointed on offense over the next two weeks, falling 10-9 to the Denver Broncos and then 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings in London.

Rodgers threw three interceptions in the loss to the Vikings, and given the influence he conceivably has as a future Hall of Famer, many instantly jumped to the conclusion that he got Saleh fired on the heels of a frustrating game.

However, Jets owner Woody Johnson called it "my decision and mine alone," per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

Rodgers seemed to corroborate Johnson's story Wednesday, saying that he spoke to Johnson on Monday night, but only about Sunday's game and his health, not about Saleh.

According to Hughes, Rodgers said "there has to be some change" in the team's performance after Saleh's firing, and he suggested that he felt Saleh's departure was partially on him since he didn't play well enough.

Saleh was hired by the Jets in 2021, but success was hard to come by, as they missed the playoffs in each of his first three seasons at the helm, extending a playoff drought that started with the 2011 season.

There was hope for better results in 2024 since the Jets finally moved on from quarterback Zach Wilson and had a healthy Rodgers after he tore his Achilles on the team's opening series in 2023.

The 40-year-old Rodgers has had some uneven performances coming off a major injury, though, and Johnson ultimately decided to try to give the team a spark with a coaching change, sending Saleh packing with a career record of 20-36 as the Jets' head coach.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named Saleh's replacement on an interim basis, and Rodgers is already throwing his full support behind him, per ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin, as he told McAfee: "I'm on board with whatever [Ulbrich] decides [in terms of changes]. I want to do what's best for the team."

Johnson had never before made an in-season coaching change, but doing so speaks to the urgency of winning while Rodgers is still in the fold.

The Jets are entirely built to win now, and given Rodgers' age, they may not have many more opportunities to reach the playoffs in the near future.

Saleh's firing comes before a massive Monday night home game against the Buffalo Bills. With the Jets at 2-3 and the Bills at 3-2, New York can move into a tie for first place in the AFC East with a victory.