Truthful or not, some outsiders proceed to consider 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 group 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 group’s offensive play-caller starting with this coming Monday’s dwelling 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 aware of the connection [Rodgers] has with Nathaniel,” Ulbrich stated throughout a information convention, as shared by Myles Simmons of Professional Soccer Speak. “And so they’re very, excellent buddies that return a great 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 quite a lot 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 via the 2021 season, and it is extensively assumed the Jets employed Hackett in January 2023 to assist persuade Rodgers to pressure a commerce from Inexperienced Bay to New York the next spring.
Nevertheless, it was reported this previous Could that “the Jets made respectable makes an attempt this offseason to rent somebody who would, primarily, substitute Hackett” after the membership’s offense didn’t 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 virtually 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.
Based on ESPN stats, Gang Inexperienced started Thursday answerable for the league’s worst dashing assault (80.4 yards on the bottom per recreation) and ranked twenty fifth with a mean of 18.6 factors scored per contest.
Per Connor Hughes of SNY, Rodgers stated on Wednesday he would help nevertheless Ulbrich dealt with the offense transferring ahead. It stays to be seen what Thursday’s improvement means for Hackett’s position with the Jets past the Buffalo recreation.