As Robert Saleh was planning to do, Jeff Ulbrich will demote Nathaniel Hackett. The second-year Jets offensive coordinator will no longer carry play-calling responsibilities.
Instead, quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator Todd Downing will take over. Ulbrich announced this change Thursday morning, and Hackett’s stock continues to nosedive in the years since his Packers OC tenure. This will be Downing’s third chance at calling plays for a team, as he did so as Raiders OC and Titans OC. Ulbrich will remain the Jets’ defensive play-caller.
The Jets had conducted a backchannel search for an assistant that would aid Hackett this offseason, contacting Arthur Smith about the unusual role. No official OC interviews occurred, and Hackett — who has continually received Aaron Rodgers endorsements despite his shaky resume — retained play-calling duties. But the Jets’ offense has not seen Rodgers’ return produce a substantial improvement. Considering Zach Wilson was primarily at the controls last season, these struggles played a central role in Saleh being fired.
Hackett’s offense, which ranked 29th in scoring and 31st in yardage last season, enters Week 6 ranked 25th and 27th in those categories. The second-generation NFL coach has taken heat for a lack of pre-snap motion, keeping an old-school West Coast Offense attack in place for Rodgers to run. Hackett, 44, had begun to lose respect in the locker room; Jets defenders were irked by the lack of accountability for the offense’s struggles.
Hackett, who saw his stock rise from his stay as a non-play-calling OC in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur, has proven overmatched at multiple stops this decade. This demotion continues one of the more memorable coaching freefalls in recent memory.
Fired as Jaguars OC during the 2018 season, Hackett rebounded with the Packers and beat out Dan Quinn to become Broncos HC in 2022. A shockingly disjointed offense defined that disastrous Denver campaign, which saw the team plummet from 21st to 32nd in scoring despite the blockbuster Russell Wilson trade. The Broncos fired Hackett after 15 games, making him the second HC since 1979 fired before his first season ended. Eyeing Rodgers, the Jets gave Hackett a lifeboat soon after. But Saleh’s hire did not produce desired results. With Rodgers back and not showing much of his MVP form following an Achilles tear, the Jets booted Saleh and are now giving the keys to Downing.
This represents a bounce-back opportunity for Downing, who saw a DUI during the 2022 season lead him out of Tennessee. The Titans canned Downing, 44, after the ’22 season brought a step back. The Titans dropped from 15th to 28th in scoring from 2021-22, though Ryan Tannehill‘s ankle injury — which cost the starter five games during the ’22 season — contributed heavily to that decline. That said, Downing was a one-and-done OC in Oakland. Jack Del Rio promoted his QBs coach to OC, replacing Bill Musgrave, in 2017. The end result: Del Rio’s firing and Downing returning to his hometown Vikings as tight ends coach.
Derek Carr took a noticeable step back, despite Amari Cooper remaining on the Raiders’ roster, in 2017; that led to Mark Davis‘ restart around Jon Gruden. Downing joined Mike Vrabel‘s Titans staff in 2019, following the Smith trajectory by being bumped from TEs coach to OC. This Jets gig will present far more pressure, however, as an all-in team with jobs on the line will rely on Downing to inject some life into an offense that has stagnated.
The Jets, who are retaining Hackett on staff, scored just nine points against the Broncos and fell behind 17-0 against the Vikings. Meanwhile, the Saleh- and Ulbrich-coached defense ranks fifth in scoring and second in yardage. After Saleh fell on his sword, Ulbrich will be tasked with re-routing the 2-3 team’s course. The team faces the Bills for a shot at the division lead Monday. Suddenly, Downing holds the keys to the Jets’ Rodgers-centric plan being salvaged.
Long as he’s not automatic run-run-pass on every possession, what can it hurt?
OK, so they can acknowledge that the running of the offense is the biggest problem, but only after sacrificing a fall guy who wasn’t the problem? So stupid.
They are not in a position to dump Rodgers. And he seems to be a big reason for their bad play. Watching the last game you can tell he does not care.
I think he looked hobbled more than anything. And running a predictable offense with no play action or misdirection is just outdated. They were also playing the same defense that humbled Purdy and Stroud this season. I don’t see how firing Saleh after five games is supposed to help.
Slappy- I think Rodgers is about fifth on the list of reasons the offense has stunk. That comes with the caveat that fifth is still pretty dang bad considering everything wrong with this offense: playcalling, stone hands WRs like Lazard (3 drops last Sunday), RT having played very poorly so far (Moses wasn’t off to a good start and Fashanu has been horrible in relief), and a run game that’s been inefficient to put it nicely.
Saleh gets no credit whatsoever. I mean, was there any point in his four-year run that suggested that the Jets had arrived? One could argue in favor of completing the season, but in no way was he a fall guy.
The defense has been excellent. The team played hard for him even after Rodgers went down last year. He’s had abysmal quarterbacks and was saddled with a bottom five offensive coordinator to entice Rodgers. I don’t think he’s one of the best head coaches in the league or anything, but even with this year’s problems, they’re a missed 50 yard kick from being tied for first place. Senseless to fire him now.
Rodgers cooked but still in charge
lol maybe jets will score more than 9 points then
Considering they scored 17 and 19 against better Ds, the 9 in a hurricane against another really good D was unlucky timing more than anything.
Did Roger Goodell get involved here?
And despite the ongoing rolling dumpster fire issue the Jets seem to be having here….watch them win their next game
Got rid of Saleh and demoted Hackett?!?! Jets with their best moves in years!
Hackett is a joke…only reason he has a job is because of prima donna Rodgers. Jets should just shed this washed up, overrated Moron
As a Packer fan who wanted to dump The Diva almost a decade ago, this makes me very happy to see.
It’s like the Adam Gase years – who wants playcalling duties?
*puts finger on nose
NOT IT!
I’m so grateful for the Jets…. I was just starting to feel sorry for myself and the Niners…. at least Nathaniel Hackett is not employeed by my team. This is what you replace Saleh with? I’d have called Bellichek before ever giving Hacket a piece of paper and a pen. This will end bad… or worse.
Jets would’ve faced a fan revolt had they hired Belichick — they blew the whistle on his spying operation and they’re also the team that ended his career.
It is entirely possible that Hackett isn’t particularly good at his job.
Then why fire Saleh if the dude replacing him is making the same decision to replace Hackett?
Defense isn’t and wasn’t the problem in NY.
Tune in later today when the headline reads: Jets fire Jeff Ulbrich. Aaron is probably hobbling to the phone right now.
Now the Jets will give up a couple of picks for Davante Adams to make the destruction complete.