Robert Saleh ‘wanted to fire Jets offensive coordinator and Aaron Rodgers-favorite Nathaniel Hackett’ before being dismissed himself
One way or another, somebody was getting fired in at the New York Jets facility in Florham Park, New Jersey this week.
Were it not for owner Woody Johnson’s decision to fire head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, it would have been offensive coordinator and long-time Aaron Rodgers favorite Nathaniel Hackett who would have been canned, according to CBS Sports.
The report comes at a chaotic time for a Jets team that is quickly losing a grasp on any Super Bowl aspirations following Sunday’s 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
A week earlier, Hackett’s offense mustered only nine points in a deflating loss to the Denver Broncos – the same team that fired him after a 4-11 start in 2022.
He and Rodgers had previously worked together in Green Bay as the decorated quarterback won his third and fourth league MVP awards. But after Rodgers missed all but one offensive series due to injury in 2023, the two have failed to rekindle their success with the Jets in 2024.
Robert Saleh reacts against the Minnesota Vikings in the first half at Tottenham Stadium
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of the New York Jets speaks to reporters in May
Aaron Rodgers was reportedly surprised to learn that Robert Saleh was being fired
Although he looked like his former self against the lowly New England Patriots in Week 3, Rodgers struggled in the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers and during the team’s ongoing two-game losing skid.
The worst came on Sunday in London, where Rodgers was picked off three times by the Vikings and appeared to aggravate his surgically repaired right ankle. He is still expected to play Monday against the Buffalo Bills, when defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will make his debut as interim head coach.
At least for now, Hackett remains the Jets’ offensive coordinator, but that’s not because the team is wowing anyone on that side of the ball. While Ulbrich’s defense ranks second in yardage and fifth in sports, Hackett’s offense sits at 27th and 25th, respectively.
For comparison, the Jets ranked 31st and 25th in points last season as Rodgers recovered from his ruptured Achilles. Since then, the team has added former All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith, not to mention veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, but has little to show for the offseason moves.
Woody Johnson (left) did not defer to general manager Joe Douglas when firing Saleh
The Jets rank dead last in rushing despite the presence of highly touted running back Breece Hall, while Rodgers has been sacked 13 times – more than all but nine other passers.
Ultimately, the decision to fire Saleh was Johnson’s, according to the pharmaceutical heir and former US ambassador to the United Kingdom.
‘This is probably the best team I’ve had in 25 years,’ Johnson told reporters Tuesday. ‘I just felt that the best way to go forward was a new direction. Taking Jeff Ulbrich and making him the interim head coach, I thought that would get the most out of this team and give us the best chance that we all want to have, which is going to the playoffs.’
Rodgers was ‘blindsided’ by Saleh’s firing and had no indication the move was coming despite speaking with Johnson hours earlier, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Johnson has maintained that the former Super Bowl winner had no input in Saleh’s exit. He said that he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas but that ultimately it was his decision and his decision alone.
