Jets have no plans to fire Nathaniel Hackett

Essentially under intense scrutiny since taking over as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett remains thereafter Robert SalehThe fall on Tuesday morning. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Jets have no plans to defeat struggling OC.

Given Hackett’s connections to Aaron Rodgersthat is not surprising. However, the Jets have made an interesting effort to curb Hackett’s power by attempting to hire an assistant who would limit the former Packers OC’s reach in the building. That plan did not come to fruition and Hackett announces he will play for the Jets for the second straight season.

That means Hackett’s survival may have surprised some in the organization. Instead of Saleh being in danger of losing his job after London, SNY’s Connor Hughes finds that some Hackett suspects are closer to the chopping block. Hughes adds that members of the Jets’ front office have been scrutinizing Hackett’s work recently.

Hackett is no stranger to in-season layoffs. The Jaguars removed him from his OC position during the 2018 season. Even more memorably, the Broncos made him one of the few first-year HCs in NFL history to be released before the end of his first season. Hackett’s disastrous Denver stint lasted the entire 15 games. However, the Jets hired him shortly after to take over the plays. The move certainly had an impact on the team’s acquisition of Rodgers, who was nearing retirement when Hackett signed on to call the Jets’ games.

Aside from the scrutiny, Hackett has the support of Rodgers, who is effectively an organizational power broker as he is important to this Jets regime’s chances of sticking around beyond 2024. Apparently the only chance that arises is if he is interim HC Jeff Ulbrich leads to a turning point. Hackett’s connection to Rodgers, stemming from three seasons as a non-playing OC in Green Bay, has proven strong enough to stabilize the second-generation NFL coach’s career, at least to some extent.

More will follow.