Robert Saleh’s shock NFL return with the Green Bay Packers has inevitably brought questions about Aaron Rodgers.

Saleh has returned to the NFL touchlines just weeks after being fired from his head coach role at the New York Jets as their struggles continued early in the season. Saleh left MetLife Stadium amid murmurs of a potential feud with quarterback Rodgers.

Rodgers spent almost two decades with the Packers, winning Super Bowl XLV after being selected as a first-round pick in the 2005 draft. The 40-year-old joined the Jets last off-season but was sidelined for virtually the entire campaign through injury.

Returning to the fold under Saleh at the beginning of this season, an awkward relationship was suggested to have formed between Rodgers and his coach, leading some to believe the pair’s apparent fractious feelings played a part in the decision to relive Saleh of his role.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love spoke about Saleh’s arrival but said he has not asked Rodgers about the coach. Love played backup to Rodgers during the veteran’s time with the Packers and the two still seemingly get on.

Love added that he likes the idea of having an extra set of eyes on the offense from someone with a different perspective. “Having a defensive mind talking offense and helping us with things he might be able to see, kind of similar scheme stuff, things the defense might be looking for, it helps,” Love said.

Robert Saleh

Saleh has joined up with the Green Bay Packers ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Before taking the Jets head coach position, Saleh was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, giving a different insight into his new position as offensive consultant for the Packers. Saleh is well known to Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur, with LaFleur crediting Saleh for helping him break into the NFL coaching ranks.

“Yeah, I think it helps,” LaFleur said on Saleh’s presence. “Having a defensive mind talking offense and helping us with things he might be able to see, kind of similar scheme stuff, things the defense might be looking for, it helps.”

He added: “I think he’s got an elite defensive mind. But that’s why I want him on the offensive side, so he can help us attack the defenses.” The two first worked together at Central Michigan University as graduate assistants in 2004. There, they shared an apartment, and two decades on, Saleh has been staying at LaFleur’s house this week.

Rodgers reacted to the speculation that he was involved in Saleh’s firing. Speaking on a previous episode of “The Pat McAfee Show”, Rodgers slammed the claims. “As far as any of the ridiculous accusations out there, I’m not going to spend more than one sentence in response to it,” Rodgers said.

“That is, I resent any of those accusations because they’re false. It’s interesting the power that people think that I have, which I don’t.” The Jets will not play the Packers this year.