Truthful or not, some outsiders proceed to imagine that then-New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh “seriously contemplating” parting methods with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett following Week 5 of the season resulted in quarterback Aaron Rodgers having workforce proprietor Woody Johnson fireplace Saleh on Tuesday.
Interim Jets head coach Jeff Ulbrich confirmed on Thursday that quarterbacks coach and passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing is changing Hackett because the workforce’s offensive play-caller starting with this coming Monday’s house matchup in opposition to the 3-2 Buffalo Payments. Ulbrich additionally revealed how Rodgers reacted to Hackett’s demotion.
“It was clearly — not essentially shocked, however all of us are acquainted with the connection [Rodgers] has with Nathaniel,” Ulbrich mentioned throughout a information convention, as shared by Myles Simmons of Professional Soccer Speak. “They usually’re very, superb mates that return a good distance. He understood the choice and he was supportive of the choice. And I’m lucky for that. So, I talked to him, I talked to a number of offensive gamers — and defensive gamers for that matter — earlier than making this determination.”
Rodgers first had Hackett as a coordinator with the Inexperienced Bay Packers from 2019 by way of the 2021 season, and it is extensively assumed the Jets employed Hackett in January 2023 to assist persuade Rodgers to power a commerce from Inexperienced Bay to New York the following spring.
Nonetheless, it was reported this previous Might that “the Jets made authentic makes an attempt this offseason to rent somebody who would, basically, substitute Hackett” after the membership’s offense did not impress with out Rodgers within the lineup.
Rodgers suffered a campaign-ending torn Achilles 4 offensive snaps into New York’s 2023 season opener.
Rodgers reportedly took the firing of Saleh “more durable than nearly anyone” within the locker room, and the future Corridor of Famer insisted throughout a Wednesday look on “The Pat McAfee Present” that he had nothing to do with Johnson’s determination that was made roughly 48 hours after the signal-caller tossed three interceptions in a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that dropped the Jets to 2-3 on the season.
In keeping with ESPN stats, Gang Inexperienced started Thursday accountable for the league’s worst speeding assault (80.4 yards on the bottom per recreation) and ranked twenty fifth with a median of 18.6 factors scored per contest.
Per Connor Hughes of SNY, Rodgers mentioned on Wednesday he would help nonetheless Ulbrich dealt with the offense shifting ahead. It stays to be seen what Thursday’s improvement means for Hackett’s position with the Jets past the Buffalo recreation.
