MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Before he was the Miami Dolphins’ backup quarterback, Tim Boyle spent the better part of a year with the New York Jets.
So no one in Miami’s locker room had more insight into the Jets’ decision to fire Robert Saleh five weeks into that 2024 season than Boyle.
Miami Dolphins Discuss Robert Saleh Firing
“It’s unfortunate,” said Boyle, who has been the Dolphins’ QB2 in each of the last three games. “You never want to see a coach get fired, but they’re doing their thing up in New York, and I’m on the Miami Dolphins right now. So I’m going to stay in my lane.”
Asked what he enjoyed about his time spent with Saleh, Boyle — who started two games for the Jets in 2023, including their Black Friday loss to the Dolphins — replied:
“I think the culture is great over there,” Boyle said. .”… I think, as you’ve seen, the Jets defense has been wonderful the past couple of years, and they’re just starting to get stuff going on offense. Obviously, we struggled last year on offense, but they got enough coaches over there.
“I know the coaching staff pretty well, with [Nathaniel] Hackett on offense, a bunch of players, and they’re going to get it turned around. So I’m excited to see what they do.”
The culture may have been strong under Saleh, but the results were not. He went 20-36 in 3+ years as New York’s head coach, including 1-5 against the Dolphins.
When these longtime AFC East rivals meet for the first time in 2024 on Dec. 8, it’ll be Mike McDaniel vs. Jeff Ulbrich. New York promoted Ulbrich from defensive coordinator to head coach Tuesday.
Ulbrich and McDaniel worked together on the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching staff under Robert Quinn, who is now the Washington Commanders head coach.
And while the speculation is Saleh might join up with other former colleagues such as McDaniel or San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan to finish out the season, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that he has no plans to join a staff midseason.
As for the question 49ers fans are asking: Robert Saleh plans to regroup, go on vacation with his family and prepare for the next hiring cycle, when he should be in demand as a defensive coordinator. He has no plans to join anyone's staff during the 2024 season, should an…
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) October 8, 2024
“I haven’t really fully digested it yet,” said Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert, who was with both McDaniel and Saleh in San Francisco. “I think he’s going to be all right wherever he goes. If he gets picked up, I think he’s a great coordinator, a great coach.
“He brings the best out of players. It’s unfortunate that he was let go over there, but still excited to see where he lands. It’s going to probably be a quick transition, but honestly, I’m excited for him.”
