Jets' head coach Robert Saleh at Aaron Rodgers' introductory press conference — Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports

Three Takeaways from Albert Breer's Sit-Down with Jets' Robert Saleh

What we learned from the Sports Illustrated writer's visit to North Jersey

Author:
Ralph Ventre
Publish date:
Jun 16, 2023 7:20 PM EDT

In this story:

It was the New York Jets' final day of organized team activities.

With head coach Robert Saleh having dismissed everyone from the minicamp that traditionally punctuates OTAs, this particular June Friday marked the team's final practice until training camp in July.

Albert Breer made a quick springtime swing through Florham Park to experience the environment at 1 Jets Drive for the first time since Aaron Rodgers arrived. The Sports Illustrated senior writer sat down with Saleh for an insightful interview.

Breer and the third-year head coach tackled a number of topics, Rodgers naturally included.

Three things we learned from Albert's Sit-Down:

(featuring quotes from "Robert Saleh Explains How Aaron Rodgers Has Already Raised the Bar for the Jets")

1. Rodgers is speaking the "love language"

"He’s very thoughtful and deliberate in the way he goes about things,” says Saleh. “During OTAs, he’s gone out with the guys. And every weekend, he’s gone out with a different set of guys to get some time with everybody. So that’s the stuff in the locker room. When he is in the building, it’s very important for him to know everyone’s name, whether it’s the chef, the equipment guys, the trainers, people upstairs."

“It’s very important to him to understand the building in general. I call it love language. Everybody has it. Relationships and connecting with people is very important to him. And that’s not something you’d have thought based on narratives. But it clearly is.”

2. Saleh values his experience with Pete Carroll in Seattle

Before rising into the defensive coordinator position in San Francisco, Saleh served three seasons as the defense quality control coach with the Seahawks. He was on the staff for the Super Bowl XLVIII run.

"The Super Bowl year, we had two things—Leave no doubt and What’s next?” Saleh says. “Those were the two little cliché things every day. Leave no doubt in the work that you’re doing, and when you’ve done that work, What’s next? So it was very daily-oriented. Like, I’m gonna leave no doubt that today’s going to be my best day, and then the day is done, what’s next? There was never satisfaction. Even when we won the Super Bowl, it was like, O.K., what’s next?"

"And I really appreciate that mindset, where we were so day-to-day driven, and so ready to move on to the next step. It was a really cool process, how that was built.”

3. The increased intensity and raised expectations are real with Rodgers in the building

His presence creates hope,” Saleh says. “And when you have something to fight for, it’s just human nature, you’re gonna lock in a little bit more. For sure, his presence, his words carry weight, he’s got a great demeanor to him, he’s been fantastic with his teammates, he’s been fantastic in the locker room. And the level of detail has gone up. I think it’s more …”