By Lydia Jane Allison

The New York Jets are year in and year out, one of the NFL teams considered an also-ran or a soap opera and long-time losers.

But Chairman Woody Johnson feels this team is better than a 2-3 start. So the head coach had to go.

Jets Chairman Woody Johnson, speaking to reporters after firing head coach Robert Saleh and naming Jeff Ulbrich interim head coach Tuesday morning, said his decision is to spark the Jets (2-3).

“This is one of the most-talented teams that has ever been assembled by the New York Jets,” Johnson said. “I wanted to give this team the most opportunity to win this this season. I feel that we had to go in a different direction and that’s why I did that today. The change that we made today, that I made, I believe will bring new energy and positivity that will lead to more wins starting now.”

Since it was his decision, Johnson, out of respect, said he spoke with general manager Joe Douglas about the decision on Saleh, who had a 20-36 record since his hiring in 2021.

The move is the first midseason head coaching change since the 77-year-old Johnson purchased the team in 2000. Ulbrich, who has served as the team’s defensive coordinator since 2021 and produced a top-five unit each of the last two seasons, will take over as the interim head coach. Ulbrich, is a former star with the 49ers from 2000-09, has experience as a head coach serving in that role at the Senior Bowl last January.

Why Ulbrich, Johnson was asked.

“I’ve seen him coach, I know the relationship he has with the players and they respect him,” Johnson said. “They trust him. I’ve seen it at halftime and I’ve seen it in practice. When he talks, they listen to him in a way that probably represents the fact that he did play the sport as linebacker for 10 years, which is pretty unique. He brings that knowledge and the respect and the knowledge to the game in a way that I think that will be very good for the players going forward.”

COMPILED FROM TV, RADIO, SOCIAL MEDIA, NEW YORK JETS AND STAFF REPORTS