Solomon Thomas is the latest to rewrite history on Robert Saleh’s Jets tenure

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh has opted to look forward, albeit with the occasional subtle jab, ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the New York Jets. 

Solomon Thomas, who has since reunited with Saleh in Tennessee, is taking a different approach. 

Speaking with The Tennessean this week, Thomas ripped the Jets for firing Saleh five games into the 2024 season. At the time, the Jets were 2-3 and in their first full season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. 

“We were tied for first in our division and our head coach gets fired,” Thomas said. “In no situation would that ever make sense. Just the fact that he has so many former Jets here just shows that guys love playing for him. They know what he’s about to do here and they want to be a part of it.”

Thomas also blasted the Jets’ front office, then led by Joe Douglas, for what he felt was a disconnect between management and the coaching staff. Ownership dismissed Douglas in November 2024, and Darren Mougey was hired shortly after the season ended.

“I’ve never really been in a place where more was said out of the front office than out of the locker room and said as a distraction,” Thomas said. “And it was really unfortunate because our locker room was really the opposite of what was going on in the front office.”

Solomon Thomas is trying to rewrite history on Robert Saleh’s time with the New York Jets

Admittedly, we were extremely critical of the national media’s attempt to absolve Saleh of any wrongdoing during his three-plus seasons with the Jets. We’ll give Thomas a slight pass because he was in the locker room and had previously played for Saleh in San Francisco.

In other words, Thomas’ words and perspective carry far greater weight than a pundit arguing that Saleh will thrive in Tennessee because no one can win with the Jets. 

The Jets firing Saleh after a 2-3 start in 2024 isn’t where the real issue is. Let’s go back to 2022, when they started 7-4 but promptly lost their final six games. Saleh should be grateful the Jets didn’t fire him after they failed to score a touchdown in the final three weeks. 

Objectively speaking, the Jets should’ve cleaned house after 2023, because the Rodgers-being-injured excuse only went so far. What was the point of bringing Saleh back just to fire him so early into the 2024 season?

Thomas is free to believe the Jets were wrong to fire Saleh when they did. Great. Let’s hear his thoughts about Tennessee getting rid of Mike Vrabel, or what the Ravens did this past winter with John Harbaugh. 

There is no question that players, especially those in San Francisco, love and respect Saleh. He’s an excellent coordinator, and his success in San Francisco speaks for itself. 

But to argue that Saleh became the scapegoat and was treated unfairly? The Jets went 8-19 in his final 27 games, and he didn’t exactly leave them in the best shape. 

We appreciate Thomas’ loyalty, and it speaks volumes about both him and Saleh as people. Let’s just not pretend that the latter’s time in New York was misunderstood.  

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