New York Jets legend Joe Namath expressed his disappointment with current Jets quarterback Zach Wilson after the team’s loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Wilson struggled to generate offense as the Jets averaged only 4.4 yards per pass attempt and a total of 171 yards throughout the game. The rookie quarterback completed 18 of 36 passes for 157 yards without any touchdowns or interceptions in the 15-10 defeat.
Namath took to Twitter during the game to voice his frustrations with the Jets’ offense and coaching staff. He further elaborated on his dissatisfaction with Wilson during an appearance on “The Michael Kay Show” on Monday, stating that he didn’t find any positives from Wilson’s performance. Namath criticized Wilson for quitting on plays and not making an effort to win.
During the game, Namath posted on Twitter, questioning Wilson’s decision-making on certain plays. He also began to question the coaching staff after the loss, suggesting that changes may need to be made if the team’s performance doesn’t improve.
Despite Namath and Jets fans’ criticisms, head coach Robert Saleh maintained his support for Wilson, stating that he is the team’s unquestioned quarterback as long as he continues to show improvement in his preparation and performance. Saleh emphasized that Wilson wasn’t solely responsible for the team’s loss and that it was a collective effort.
Wilson took over as the starting quarterback for the injured Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a torn Achilles early in the season. The Jets had initially brought in Rodgers due to their lack of faith in Wilson after a disappointing 2022 season. However, Namath believes Wilson has shown enough to warrant being cut from the team and suggests that he should back up someone like Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City to learn and develop his skills.
The Jets are set to face Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in their upcoming game, with Wilson expected to start.