On Tuesday, Robert Saleh was fired as the head coach of the Jets, but this wasn't the only significant change in the works. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was also set for a major adjustment. According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, Saleh was "seriously contemplating" firing Hackett before his own dismissal took place. The decision could have come as early as Tuesday, but with Saleh now out, Hackett's job is safe for the moment, though his role might still change soon.
*Related: Woody Johnson (Jets owner) denies that Aaron Rodgers (star quarterback) had any part in Saleh's firing.*
Although there was speculation about Hackett being fired, SNY’s Connor Hughes and Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk clarified that Saleh never planned to fire him. Instead, Saleh was preparing to take away Hackett’s *play-calling duties* (the authority to decide which plays the team runs during a game) ahead of Week 6. If this change had occurred, Todd Downing (passing game coordinator) would have taken over calling the plays, while Hackett remained on the staff.
Hackett, who worked well with Rodgers during their time together in Green Bay, was originally tasked with running the offense. However, after Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1, the Jets' offensive struggles became more noticeable, with the team ranking 23rd in *DVOA* (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average, a metric that measures a team's efficiency compared to the league average). On the defensive side, the Jets ranked 12th, making it clear that the offense was underperforming.
Before these recent developments, the Jets had even contacted Arthur Smith (former head coach of the Falcons) about joining the team to oversee Hackett’s performance, but he declined and took a job with the Steelers instead.
Now that Jeff Ulbrich (defensive coordinator) has been promoted to interim head coach, it’s unclear if Hackett will lose his play-calling duties. If Downing takes over, it will be the first time since his time with the Tennessee Titans, where he faced ups and downs, that he will lead an offense again.
With Saleh fired, it will be interesting to see if Ulbrich follows through on the plan to shift Hackett's responsibilities. If Hackett retains control of the offense, he'll be under intense pressure as the Jets try to salvage the season and aim for the playoffs.
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