The New York Jets’ sudden announcement on Monday that head coach Robert Saleh was out and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was taking over on an interim basis left a major question unanswered: If the team’s offense was the biggest contributor to a disappointing 2-3 start, why didn’t offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett also get the boot?
Through the first five games, the Jets rank 27th out of 32 teams in total offense (286.6 yards per game) and dead last in rushing (80.4 ypg), despite having a four-time MVP quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and one of the NFL’s top running backs in Breece Hall.
Hackett’s relationship with Rodgers – who was the quarterback when Hackett served as the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021 – may have helped save his job. At least for now.
Where else has Nathaniel Hackett coached?
In between his stints as offensive coordinator for the Packers and Jets, Hackett served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
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He was selected to succeed Vic Fangio in Denver at the start of the 2022 season, but lasted only 15 games before he was fired from his first NFL head coaching job with the Broncos’ record at 4-11 and two games remaining.
Before joining the Packers, Hackett served as offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was removed from his post in 2018 before the end of his third season there.
He was also the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator from 2013-2014, and a quality control coach for the Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in his career. In addition, he worked as an assistant in the college ranks at UC Davis (his alma mater), Stanford and Syracuse.
Who is Nathaniel Hackett’s father?
Hackett, 44, is the son of former college and NFL coach Paul Hackett.
During his distinguished 40-year coaching career, Paul Hackett also served as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator from 2001-2004.