Robert Saleh is just months away from getting his first real taste of what life as an NFL head coach is like.
Rookie minicamp provided Saleh with a glimpse of what lies ahead for him as he works to dig the Jets out of the bottom of the AFC East, but training camp and the preseason are where things start to get serious. Being an NFL head coach is no easy task and while Saleh seems to have the goods to be successful in the Big Apple, there is no telling what will happen until he is thrown into the fire.
Sometimes, unrealistic expectations are bestowed upon rookie head coaches. Saleh has already done a nice job breathing life back into a Jets organization that lacked any under Adam Gase’s reign, but that does not necessarily translate to success on the field — which is sometimes expected right off the bat with a new regime in place.
What can Jets fans realistically expect from Saleh in 2021? Here is a look at how last year’s rookie head coaches fared and how their experiences could mirror Saleh’s next season.