Jets hire former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett as new offensive coordinator
Nathaniel Hackett’s unemployment was short-lived. He’s returning to an NFL staff in a familiar role.
The New York Jets are hiring Hackett as their offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Thursday. The Jets also hired Keith Carter as offensive line coach and run game coordinator, the team announced.
Hackett ascended from offensive assistant to head coach in 2022, taking over the Denver Broncos in what was supposed to be the beginning of a beautiful partnership between coach and quarterback. The pairing of Hackett and Russell Wilson failed spectacularly, though, resulting in Hackett’s firing before the completion of his first season in Denver.
Related Links
- NFL coaching, GM tracker: Latest news, interviews, developments in 2023 hiring cycle
- Jets owner Woody Johnson 'absolutely' willing to pay for veteran QB; no playoff mandate for 2023
- 2023 NFL Draft order: 27 of 31 first-round picks locked in; Cowboys hold 26th selection
In less than a year, Hackett’s reputation — one of a bright mind who guided Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay’s productive offense to success — devolved into an overwhelmed coach who likely would best serve as a coordinator in the future. New York is giving him the opportunity to do so with a team that lacks an answer under center.
The Jets cycled through four quarterbacks in 2022, turning to veteran Joe Flacco due to an injury to second-year passer Zach Wilson before benching Wilson in favor of backup Mike White. Along the way, Chris Streveler also found himself in the lineup, tasked with leading an offense that showed early season promise, but couldn’t weather a number of key injuries.
New York’s lack of a solution at quarterback appeared to drive a few candidates away from their opening. Dolphins pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell declined their request to interview him for the offensive coordinator job, as did veteran Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan, underscoring the expected difficulties of the job.
Outside of quarterback, there are plenty of reasons to be attracted to the Jets. Running back Breece Hall shined as a rookie before suffering a season-ending knee injury, and New York has a handful of promising players elsewhere (receiver Garrett Wilson and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, for example) in its starting lineup.
Hackett will be tasked with getting that group in order before the 2023 season with the goal of picking up where they left off prior to the losses of Hall and Vera-Tucker.
The Jets have completed one of two tasks, identifying and hiring their replacement for the departed Mike LaFleur. Now, they must determine how they will proceed at quarterback.
Source: Read Full Article