If, and it's a fairly big if, MLF was mutually part of the decision, maybe he said to Saleh "Look, you've built a championship defense, that might buy you an extra year beyond next, but if I screw that up by staying, I'd never forgive myself. So I'll leave and you can make the argument that you have to build a new offense."
Regardless, it's good he's gone. I don't care if it was Woody, mutual, or Zach told him he'd freak his mother if he stayed.