49ers’ Kyle Shanahan ‘very shocked’ by Jets firing Robert Saleh

Like the rest of the NFL community, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was “very shocked” to learn of Robert Saleh’s firing on Tuesday as head coach of the Jets.

When asked about the bombshell news coming out of Florham Park, Shanahan — who hired Saleh as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator in 2017 when he became head coach — said he was surprised by the move since the Jets are not out of the division. race still at 2-3.

“I texted him, but I couldn’t get a hold of him,” Shanahan said, according to Pro Football Talk. “And yes, I was quite shocked. Those things confuse you, especially when they’re competing for first place in the division this week and I think they’re there on defense and they have a really good team and a chance to have an incredible year. So that was quite surprising.”

The Jets entered the season with playoff aspirations following the expected return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who suffered an Achilles injury just four plays into his Jets career in 2023.

Having lost the season opener to the 49ers, the Jets rallied in Weeks 2 and 3 to improve to 2-1.

Things took a dark turn in Week 4 when the Jets were embarrassed at home by the Bo Nix-led Broncos in a 10-9 loss where Gang Green’s offense never found the end zone.

Team owner Woody Johnson “was furious” after the loss to Denver, sources told The Post’s Brian Costello, and wanted changes from his coach.

Saleh coached his final game with the team on Sunday, a 23-17 loss in London to the Vikings, now led by former New York quarterback Sam Darnold.

Johnson said in a statement Tuesday that he feels “now is the best time for us to move in a different direction.”

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“When I look at this team, I’ve been doing this for 25 years and this is probably the best team I’ve had in 25 years,” Johnson said Tuesday on a conference call. “And I just felt like the best way to move forward was in a new direction. I thought it would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance we all want to have, which is to make the playoffs.”

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has been named interim head coach and is now tasked with defeating the division rival Bills on primetime “Monday Night Football.”

“With the talent we have in that room, in my opinion, we have everything we need to be successful and have the season that we know we are capable of having,” Ulbrich said Tuesday.

As for Saleh, who was originally signed by the Jets in 2021 after four seasons with the Niners, he plans to spend time with his family before the next signing cycle in 2025.

Saleh posted a 20-36 record as head coach of the Jets.