Robert Saleh’s brother takes direct shot at Woody Johnson, Jets

Everyone is kicking the 0-5 New York Jets while they’re down—even a family member of their previous head coach.

Taking to Twitter, Robert Saleh’s brother, David, launched into a tirade against the Jets and team owner Woody Johnson, lambasting them for their decline (specifically defensively) since Robert’s mid-season firing in 2024.

“Last year the Jets were 2-3 playing for first place in their division when [Woody Johnson] declared that ‘the best roster in franchise history needed a spark.’ Since then the Jets defense has gone from first to worst donning a record of 3-14,” wrote Saleh.

A pair of “All Gas, No Brake” hashtags were added for good measure.

It isn’t David’s first shot at Johnson and the Jets. After Robert’s firing in 2024, David labeled the Jets’ fans as “desperately passionate and blindly faithful,” comparing them to the Detroit Lions’ fanbase throughout their years of struggles (Saleh and his family are from Michigan).

Entering the 2024 season with championship aspirations, the Jets were off to a disappointing but manageable 2-3 start when Johnson elected to fire Saleh. At the time, New York had a chance to move into first place in the AFC East with a win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.

Led by interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, the Jets suffered a 23-20 loss to Buffalo, kicking off Ulbrich’s 3-9 finish to the season as Saleh’s replacement. Coupled with New York’s 0-5 start to the 2025 season, the Jets are 3-14 since Saleh was fired. They have allowed 28 points per game over that span.

While the frustration of Saleh’s family members is understandable, it can hardly be argued that Saleh was given an unfair shake by the Jets. The timing of his firing was peculiar, but Saleh had three-plus seasons to turn the franchise around, and he finished with a 20-36 record.

With that being said, Saleh’s .357 winning percentage in New York trumps the triple zeroes currently bestowed by his successor, Aaron Glenn. The former Lions defensive coordinator is the first head coach in Jets history to begin his tenure with five straight losses.

Meanwhile, Saleh has returned to his old stomping grounds as the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator, where he is enjoying a strong start to the year. Despite numerous injuries, San Francisco sits atop the NFC West at 4-1, while Saleh’s defense is ranked sixth-best in points allowed per drive. Glenn’s Jets are 29th in the same category.

David Saleh must feel a sense of vindication at the moment, and for good reason. Glenn, Johnson, and the Jets haven’t given him a reason to feel any different.