Former Jets HC Robert Saleh Makes NFL Return With Surprising Team

UPDATE:

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur reveals that Saleh is, in fact, joining the team to work with the offense. Instead of improving the defense for the team, Saleh will instead offer a "defensive perspective" to Green Bay's offense.

The New York Jets shocked the NFL world after Week 5 when they fired Robert Saleh as head coach of the team. Saleh was not given the entire season to see if the Jets would be competitive, and it was team owner Woody Johnson who decided to move on from the former head coach.

Read more: Robert Saleh Releases Statement After Being Shockingly Fired by Jets

Saleh responded to being fired, by shouting out all the players and staff he worked with. Further reports indicated that he was set to go on vacation with his family and start preparing for a defensive coordinator position in the next hiring cycle.

Despite his want to take some time away, it appears Saleh is ready to get right back to work. The former Jets head coach has been spotted at practice with the Green Bay Packers.

Cameron Ezeir of WFRV Sports recorded a video that showcases Saleh walking the sidelines during Packers practice.

Despite Saleh being at practice, that does not mean that he has been hired by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. However, the pair have a long history with one another, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility that LaFleur will bring Saleh on board in some sort of consultant role.

LaFleur and Saleh are real-life best friends who have experience coaching together. They both worked as graduate assistants at Central Michigan in 2004 and ended up working together with the Houston Texans in 2008.

LaFleur was hired by the Texans as an offensive assistant and worked with the team from 2008-09. Saleh joined the Texans in 2005 as a defensive assistant and was promoted to linebackers coach during LaFleur's stint with the team.

Despite not being able to lead the Jets to a successful season during his time with the team, Saleh is still one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. He would likely be hired by many teams needing a defensive coordinator in 2025, but it appears he might already be working his way into a job with the Packers.

Again, this is just speculation, but Saleh wouldn't just be spending time with a team so close to when he was let go, if not for a job of some sort. It is not uncommon for former head coaches to join other teams in a consultant role.

For instance, former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is now a coaching consultant for the Cleveland Browns.

LaFleur is sure to update everyone when he speaks to the media about Saleh appearing at practice. Expect not to be shocked if he announces the former Jets coach will join the team for the rest of 2024.

For more on the Packers, head to Newsweek Sports.