GREEN BAY, Wis. — It didn’t take Robert Saleh lengthy to seek out work.
Simply over two weeks after being fired by the New York Jets, Saleh was on the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ apply area Wednesday in a brand new function.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who has credited Saleh for serving to him break into the NFL teaching ranks, has enlisted his longtime buddy to assist with the staff.
Saleh spent the early portion of apply watching the offensive facet of the ball.
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“Yeah, I feel it helps,” LaFleur mentioned. “Having a defensive thoughts speaking offense and serving to us with issues he may have the ability to see, form of comparable scheme stuff, issues the protection is perhaps searching for, it helps.”
He added, “I feel he is bought an elite defensive thoughts. However that is why I need him on the offensive facet, so he will help us assault the defenses.”
LaFleur mentioned Saleh would work the staff by way of Thursday this week and known as his function “fluid.” Saleh has been staying at LaFleur’s home this week.
Saleh and LaFleur first labored collectively at Central Michigan College as graduate assistants in 2004. They shared an condominium that had two beds and a kitchen desk however no chairs.
In 2008, Saleh persuaded then-Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak to convey LaFleur aboard as an offensive assistant. They’re so shut that LaFleur was one of the best man in Saleh’s marriage ceremony. Saleh as soon as employed LaFleur’s brother, Mike, to be his offensive coordinator with the Jets (2021-22).
Out of respect for his or her friendship, Saleh mentioned through the 2023 offseason, when the Jets have been negotiating commerce phrases with the Packers to accumulate Aaron Rodgers, that he and LaFleur agreed to not talk about the quarterback and to let the final managers of every staff deal with the commerce.
Saleh additionally beforehand labored with first-year Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, though Saleh will not be aiding on that facet of the ball in Inexperienced Bay. Hafley was the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive backs coach from 2016 to 2018. Saleh grew to become the Niners’ defensive coordinator in 2017 — a job he held till the Jets employed him in 2021.
However Saleh won’t be doing something with Hafley’s facet of the ball.
“No, I do not need to do this. I feel Haf and our defensive employees have an excellent factor going proper now,” LaFleur mentioned. “And I completely belief them, so I feel it is 12 months 1, he is form of bought to undergo it himself. So, I do not need to do this.”
Jets proprietor Woody Johnson fired Saleh on Oct. 8 after a 2-3 begin to the season that started with excessive expectations given the return of Rodgers from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered within the 2023 opener. Saleh was 20-36 in three-plus seasons and by no means led the Jets to a playoff look.
Saleh was not accessible to reporters in Inexperienced Bay on Wednesday. LaFleur joked that he advised Saleh to take a while off after he was let go by the Jets.
“Effectively, I advised him to do this, however he did not pay attention,” LaFleur mentioned. “So, yeah, I simply assume it speaks to how a lot he loves the sport of soccer and was, clearly it is robust when it will get form of taken away from you. And I do not assume it was the fitting determination [to fire Saleh], however that is not for me to say, so.”
Packers quarterback Jordan Love mentioned he has not requested Rodgers about Saleh however likes the concept of getting an additional set of eyes on the offense from somebody with a unique perspective.
“Having a defensive thoughts speaking offense and serving to us with issues he may have the ability to see, form of comparable scheme stuff, issues the protection is perhaps searching for, it helps,” Love mentioned.
The Packers don’t play the Jets this season.
This isn’t the primary time LaFleur has made a midseason addition to his employees. In November 2022, he introduced in Aubrey Nice shortly after he was let go because the defensive backs coach with the Lions. Nice assisted LaFleur and the offensive employees for the remainder of that season.
