Why OC Nathaniel Hackett is staying with Jets despite demotion

Shortly after New York Jets owner Woody Johnson fired head coach Robert Saleh, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich confirmed he was replacing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett with quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Todd Downing as the team's offensive play-caller.

For a piece published Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated explained why "who Ulbrich and Downing are" combined with "the makeup of the locker room" resulted in Hackett wanting to stick around despite his demotion.

"Hackett and Downing have become very close over the past couple of years," Breer wrote about the coaches who joined the Jets in 2023. "The way it’s worked since the two arrived in early 2023, both guys have come up with ideas and concepts for the game plan each week, they’d go through them together, and then Hackett would pare the menu down to something manageable for the players. They also split up the situational stuff (red zone, third down, etc.)."

Rodgers first had Hackett as a coordinator with the Packers from 2019-21 season, and it's widely believed Saleh and Hackett retained their jobs this past offseason because they were supported by the future Hall of Famer. There's no indication Saleh's desire to demote Hackett resulted in Johnson making the in-season change with the club at 2-3, and Rodgers reportedly "understood" Ulbrich handing play-calling duties to Downing ahead of Monday night's home game against the 3-2 Buffalo Bills.

As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Jets as one-point underdogs versus the Bills.

"A great majority of that planning will remain the same, with the difference now being that Downing will be the one paring down the ideas and calling plays on game day," Breer continued. "And, again, that’s doable because of the rapport that Hackett and Downing have with each other, and the relationships those guys have with Ulbrich. Part of Hackett’s motivation for staying was actually that he didn’t want to leave Ulbirch high and dry."

Some outsiders are skeptical that Downing will be able to help Rodgers reclaim his best form beginning with the Bills contest. Nevertheless, Ulbirch and Downing are now tasked with trying to save the season for what was advertised this summer to be a true Super Bowl contender.