Jets' Nathaniel Hackett reacts to Aaron Rodgers endorsement

During his Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers backed much-maligned offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas.

Hackett responded to Rodgers' endorsement during a Thursday news conference. 

"I didn’t even know about that, truthfully," Hackett said, per the Jets' website. "...I’ve got a great relationship with Aaron. Aaron’s been with me through a lot of different things, and he knows how I work, how we work as a staff, so that’s always appreciated."

It's widely assumed the Jets hired Hackett, Rodgers' offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers from 2019 through the 2021 season, to help convince the future Hall of Famer to orchestrate an offseason trade from Green Bay to New York. Hackett then lost Rodgers to a torn Achilles four offensive snaps into the regular-season opener, and the Jets' offense completely fell apart without the 40-year-old signal-caller. 

According to ESPN stats, the 5-9 Jets enter Week 16 ranked last in the NFL with an average of 255.1 offensive yards per game and 30th with an average of 14.4 points scored per contest. While it was rumored earlier this week that Jets owner Woody Johnson could look to part ways with at least Hackett in January, it's thought Rodgers would have to sign off on such a decision. 

"It’s always a humbling league," Hackett said about what he learned across a frustrating season for everyone involved. "There are so many things you have to prepare for, and every time you think that you’ve seen it all, you have to realize you have not seen it all. From the different things that we’ve faced throughout this year, I think that those are the things that make you stronger, and as long as you take it that way and are able to grow from it, it’ll make you better."

Rodgers indicated on Tuesday he could spend at least another two seasons playing for the Jets, and some believe he could force his way into the lineup before Week 18 ends to officially "complete" a remarkable comeback from what was thought in September to be a campaign-ending setback. 

"In the end, my job is to win," Hackett added during his comments. "My job is to put a good product out there on the offense, and that’s what I focus on. As a staff, that’s what we want to do. It doesn’t matter who’s playing for us. That’s what we want."

It seems Hackett will get another chance to produce a winning product in 2024.