Birthday Fumble: Jets Social Media ‘Forgets’ Saleh?
No team has mastered the art of embarrassing itself quite like the New York Jets.
An endless search for a franchise quarterback never fails to cartoonishly blow up in the Jets’ face, and the biggest media market in the world has shared that soot with the masses. Each chapter in New York’s recent history has been marred with dysfunction that goes far beyond whoever is taking snaps under center.
The Jets’ season has been over. For some, it ended after New York beat the New England Patriots in Week 18. For others, it ended on the season’s first drive, when quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles. Even the most optimistic found their hope wearing thin by mid-season. Head coach Robert Saleh and the Jets brain trust failed to save their sinking season, in large part due to the risks that came with reeling in Rodgers.
Dec 24, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh reacts during the second half against the Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, The Athletic released a 30-source exposé of New York’s inner workings. Saleh, inevitably, found himself in the middle of it.
Saleh reportedly grew paranoid as the season progressed, going as far as to threaten to take others’ cell phones after consistent leaks to the media. The disastrous third season for quarterback Zach Wilson had become an excuse for the coach who watched his Super Bowl expectations turn to a crawl to seven wins.
The article dominated Wednesday’s football news cycle and put Saleh under the microscope. Coincidentally, Wednesday, Jan. 31 was also Saleh’s birthday.
With waves of criticism pouring over Saleh and the organization, New York’s social media team had a choice to make: continue the long-standing tradition of publicly wishing the head coach happy birthday or wait for the media storm to pass. They posted on X (formerly Twitter) three times. None included cake or candles for the head coach’s 45th birthday.
The Jets had made a yearly post for their head coach every season since 2012. That streak ended on Wednesday. That development certainly wasn’t out of malice. A post would have been a “kick me” sign for the rest of the internet, and the New York faithful pointing out their choice was far preferable to the football world pointing and laughing.
Jets fans indulged, poking fun at their team’s misfortune. It’s just another story in the unserious scrapbook that this organization has put together.
For now, the Jets head back to the drawing board, still dealing with the effects of Rodgers’ acquisition and injury. The only thing left to do is blow out the candles and hope Rodgers delivers on his promise.
