Zach Wilson highlights a very special New York Jets moment for Robert Saleh’s 43rd birthday.
January 31 is a notable day for New York Jets fans, marking the birthday of head coach Robert Saleh. Despite an underwhelming first season at the helm, there is plenty to celebrate going forward in Florham Park.
One man who wished his coach a happy birthday was Zach Wilson.
The BYU product highlighted a very special Jets moment from the 2021 season when shouting out his coach’s name on the latter’s 43rd birthday, via Instagram.
“One of my favorite moments from this year was getting our first W. Starts with you, Coach,” Wilson wrote on the Instagram Story overlay. “Keep leading the way and we’ll keep following.”
The first win is always special, and that was no different for the rookie quarterback and rookie head coach.
That first win, a 27-24 overtime thriller against the Tennessee Titans, was a special moment for the team. Wilson posted a career-high (only his fourth career game) in passing yards with 297, plus two touchdowns and a pick.
Numbers aside, Wilson had what many consider his “breakout game” as a rookie.
The most iconic play of the game came on a 53-yard touchdown bomb to Corey Davis. The play showed everything that everyone expected of Wilson: improvising on the run, directing traffic, and effortless arm strength.
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Wilson executed several wow throws throughout the game. He compiled his best game as a Jet and ultimately came out with his first win as an NFL quarterback. While the year was filled with ups and downs, the first win is always a good one to remember.
At the end of the day, Wilson and Saleh showed growth throughout their first seasons with the green and white. The team was competitive against even playoff teams down the latter games of the season.
With a bolstered roster and another offseason to prepare, the New York Jets will look to finally make some noise in the playoff hunt in 2022.
