Jets Rumors: Reason Nathaniel Hackett Wasn’t Fired as OC Revealed amid Offseason Buzz

zach bacharContributor IJune 17, 2024

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New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett remains with the team entering the 2024 season, with the reason behind the decision revealed on Monday.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets decided to stick with Hackett despite some rumblings about potentially adding a “senior-level” coordinator instead.

“The hope is that familiarity with Hackett and his playbook, combined with a healthy Rodgers, will lift the offense out of its funk,” Cimini wrote on Monday. “In the offseason practices, the offense made fewer mistakes than a year ago, according to Saleh.”

Hackett’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers is no secret, as the former spent three years as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers from 2019 through 2021. Rodgers won two of his four career MVP awards during that same stretch with the Packers.

NFL @NFLThe best play from every game of Rodgers’ MVP season in 2021. It’s no wonder he took home the hardware. 🏆@AaronRodgers12 | @Packers pic.twitter.com/CS6LrEU6nN

The signal-caller’s first year in New York was short-lived, as an Achilles injury ended his season at the start of the team’s Week 1 clash with the Buffalo Bills. The Jets were unable to stay in the AFC playoff picture without him, finishing the season with a record of 7-10.

New York’s poor offensive output was a large reason behind the team’s 2023 struggles, ranking No. 31 among 32 teams by averaging 268.6 yards per game. The Jets also averaged a mere 15.8 points each week, the fourth-worst mark in the NFL.

With Rodgers’ return combined with offseason additions such as wide receiver Mike Williams in free agency and wideout Malachi Corley in the draft, New York should be much improved in 2024. However, Hackett’s job security is far from guaranteed if the Jets are unable to get their offense back on track.