The Jaguars have announced that Nathaniel Hackett will be retained as the club’s offensive coordinator. Hackett was promoted from quarterbacks coach to interim offensive coordinator in late October following the firing of previous OC Greg Olson.
[RELATED: 2017 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
“After taking over as the play-caller in 2016, the offensive unit made a significant jump under the direction of Nathaniel Hackett,” Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin said in a written statement. “Nathaniel comes from a coaching family and is truly ardent about the game of football, which is contagious to his players and the assistants. He has a long history of working alongside Coach [Doug] Marrone and we are fortunate to have him on our coaching staff.”
Hackett, 37, has a strong professional relationship with the new Jaguars head coach, having worked as Marrone’s offensive play-caller at Syracuse and with the Bills in the past. He’ll now be tasked with resurrecting a Jacksonville offense that regressed mightily in 2016, and specifically will be asked to continue the development of quarterback Blake Bortles. Hackett becomes the second coordinator to retain his title under Marrone, as defensive play-caller Todd Wash will also return in his same role.
Of course, Hackett’s hiring means that former 49ers/Eagles head coach Chip Kelly — the only other known candidate for the Jaguars OC position — won’t be joining the staff, at least as the play-caller. At present, the Jets and Bills are the only clubs still searching for offensive coordinators (technically, the Rams are as well, but new head coach Sean McVay has announced he will call the plays).
The Bills are not going to run an offense this coming year. It is something they have toyed with for the past few years. Novel, but will it work?