Saleh ‘pushed out of’ New York, Chiefs beat Saints, Should Mahomes be the MVP? | FIRST THINGS FIRST | HOHO
The New York Jets fired Robert Saleh after starting the season 2-3. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes discuss why Saleh was fired, and what the Jets are doing. Plus, they discuss the Kansas City Chiefs beating the New Orleans Saints and if Kansas City is the best team in the NFL.
Saleh ‘Pushed Out of’ New York, Chiefs Beat Saints, Should Mahomes Be the MVP? | FIRST THINGS FIRST
In a surprising move, Robert Saleh, head coach of the New York Jets, was fired after a 2-3 start to the season, including a disappointing loss in London. This decision has raised eyebrows across the league, especially after Saleh’s tenure spanned only three and a half years, ending with a 20-36 record. The defense was a highlight of his time, consistently ranking in the top five across various categories like sacks, points allowed, and yards allowed. However, it was the offense—Aaron Rodgers’ struggle and Hackett’s questionable leadership—that led to Saleh’s dismissal, leaving many to question if Saleh was just a scapegoat for deeper issues within the team.
Nick Wright and the First Things First crew discussed the timing and reasoning behind Saleh’s firing, with Wright pointing out that the moment of his downfall may have come earlier in the season when Rodgers appeared to dismiss Saleh during a game. As Wright notes, Rodgers seemingly has too much influence over team decisions, which led to Saleh’s exit while offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett remained in his role, despite the team’s offensive shortcomings.
Wright further highlighted that firing Saleh without removing Hackett is indefensible, considering Hackett’s responsibility for the team’s offensive struggles. The general sentiment echoed by Chris Broussard was that Saleh had become the scapegoat for Rodgers’ inconsistency, a decision likely motivated by team owner Woody Johnson’s embarrassment after the London game.
The Jets’ decision to fire Saleh so early in the season is particularly shocking given the history of such moves in the NFL. Teams that fire their head coach before the sixth game rarely turn their season around. Of the 27 head coaches fired early in the Super Bowl era, only one made it to the playoffs. That coach took over a team in a unique situation, not due to poor performance but because of the controversy surrounding former coach Jon Gruden. The firing of Saleh feels more like a panic move to appease fans than a calculated strategy to save the season.
Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, continue to dominate. The Chiefs, led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, are now 5-0 after a 33-14 win against the New Orleans Saints. Mahomes had another stellar performance, throwing for over 330 yards, including 130 to JuJu Smith-Schuster, while Kareem Hunt added over 100 yards on the ground. The game was drama-free, with Kansas City’s offense and defense working in perfect harmony.
Wright made the case that Kansas City is not just the best team in the NFL but that the gap between the Chiefs and the second-best team is larger than in any other major American sport. They have the best quarterback in Mahomes, who, despite not having the best numbers this season, is still undeniably the best in the league. They also have the best head coach in Andy Reid and the best defense, which has quietly become the strongest in the NFL.
Kansas City’s defense has been stellar, preventing any team from scoring more than 28 points in a game since their Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles two years ago. Wright emphasized that no running back or top offensive player has had a big game against the Chiefs’ defense this season. The combination of Mahomes, Reid, and a top-tier defense has made Kansas City nearly unstoppable, leaving no doubt that they are currently the team to beat in the NFL.
With Kansas City playing at such a high level, the conversation naturally shifted to Mahomes’ MVP candidacy. While his numbers this season are not as eye-popping as in previous years, his leadership and ability to control games are unparalleled. Broussard and Wright debated whether Mahomes should be the front-runner for MVP, and while there are other contenders like Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen, Mahomes’ consistency, football IQ, and knack for performing in high-pressure situations make him a top contender.
The debate about MVP always centers around stats, but Wright made a compelling argument that it’s Mahomes’ impact on the field that should matter most. His command of the offense, ability to make clutch plays, and the way he elevates his teammates are all reasons why Mahomes should be seriously considered for the MVP award, regardless of pure statistics.
Ultimately, the episode of First Things First encapsulated the dichotomy of the NFL right now: the turmoil in New York, where Rodgers’ influence seems to be clouding sound decision-making, and the sheer dominance of the Chiefs, who continue to set the standard for excellence in the league. While Saleh’s firing left many questioning the Jets’ future, the Chiefs and Mahomes are already looking forward to another deep playoff run, with MVP honors potentially on the horizon for their superstar quarterback.
The NFL season is still young, but these two storylines—one of instability and one of supremacy—are shaping the narrative as the league marches toward mid-season.
