49ers coach Kyle Shanahan explains why he was “pretty shocked” when the Jets fired Robert Saleh

The news of Robert Saleh's firing by the New York Jets came as a surprise to many after the head coach had only five games under his belt this season with a 2-3 record.

The shock not only hit the Jets' fan base, but was felt throughout the NFL, including by a former colleague of Saleh's in the West.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan knows Saleh very well. The latter was his defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020 before landing the Jets' head coaching job in January 2021.

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New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh watches from the sideline against the Denver Broncos during the first half at MetLife Stadium. (Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images)

After hearing Saleh was fired, Shanahan explained why he saw it as a “pretty surprising” move.

“I texted him, but I couldn’t talk to him,” Shanahan said at a news conference Tuesday. “And yeah, I was pretty shocked. That's a turn off, especially when they're fighting for first place in the division this week and I think they're at the top of their game on defense and they're a pretty good team and have a chance. “A hell of a year. So that was quite surprising.

JETS OWNER WOODY JOHNSON SAYS HE FOUND ROBERT SALEH ONE DAY AFTER MEETING AARON RODGERS

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson told reporters that he believed it was the right decision at the right time, but did not elaborate on why he decided to fire Saleh.

Shanahan thinks the Jets may be a game under .500, but the AFC East has been a surprising force so far this season, with the Buffalo Bills at 3-2 after suffering two straight losses, just like the Jets. The Miami Dolphins were in disarray despite their win last week against the New England Patriots, who appear to be one of the worst teams in the NFL after losing four straight games.

With a division to compete for and Saleh finally getting quarterback Aaron Rodgers back to health after the catastrophic Achilles tear in Week 1 last year, this New York squad has a real chance to end their playoff drought of over a decade break through.

To add to the surprise for Shanahan, Saleh's defense, a strength last season, is performing once again. However, the offense brought into play by offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has been inconsistent for five weeks.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, left, and New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh chat before the game at Levi's Stadium. (Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)

Saleh's firing came a day after Johnson's meeting with Rodgers, although the team owner said he had no influence on the decision to make the firing. Johnson did consult with GM Joe Douglas, but once again the owner left the decision solely on his shoulders.

Saleh may be on the free agent block now, but his defensive prowess shouldn't keep him there for long.

Perhaps Shanahan could find a spot for his old colleague somewhere on his team, considering how good the 49ers' defense has been with Saleh's leadership in the past.

Meanwhile, the Jets will now give defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the role of interim head coach, and he will reportedly have the rest of the season to prove he can keep that role full-time.

The news that New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh (left) was fired had “pretty shocked” San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, who worked with Saleh. (IMAGN)

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Now that the keys have been handed over to Ulbrich, he will lead the Jets on Monday Night Football this week against the Bills.

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