Report raises red flags regarding Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett

The New York Jets intend on running it back next season with OC Nathaniel Hackett despite finishing second to last in the NFL in total offense in 2023. As more behind-the-scenes information surfaces about the Jets' disastrous season, owner Woody Johnson's decision to stick with the struggling coach becomes even more questionable.

To sway quarterback Aaron Rodgers to come to the Big Apple, the Jets hired Hackett, his friend. The pair developed a strong relationship while working together with the Packers from 2019-21, during which the star quarterback won two of his four MVP awards.

Similar to their player-coach dynamic in Green Bay, Rodgers was immediately given the reins to Hackett's offense. According to a story published Wednesday on The Athletic, the signal-caller routinely overrode his OC's play calls in training camp. When asked by fellow coaches why they were running certain plays, Hackett would often reply, "That’s what Aaron wants."

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini spoke with 30 sources for the blockbuster report.

While the Jets anticipated initial growing pains with their offense — which was getting used to a different system with multiple newcomers at key positions — practices were more lopsided than expected. Despite the defensive line consistently dominating New York's O-line, Hackett didn't seem pressed to fix his offense's issues, per the report. 

Though the Hackett-Rodgers system worked well in Green Bay, it showed immediate cracks once the 40-year-old went down with a torn Achilles four snaps into the season. The former floundered in the absence of his longtime quarterback as he struggled to run his offense with backup Zach Wilson. 

In The Athletic report, several coaches and players bashed Hackett for "lacking in attention to detail" and waiting until the "last minute" to game prep with the entire offensive staff. 

According to the report, Hackett also appeared stubborn to make adjustments during games, with the Jets' Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys serving as a prime example. Offensive line coach/running game coordinator Keith Carter reportedly asked Hackett for more help on the left side, where tackle Duane Brown was struggling to block Micah Parsons. No changes were made, however, allowing Dallas' standout linebacker to finish with two sacks and four quarterback hits in New York's 30-10 loss.

In a disappointing 7-10 season, New York finished last in the NFL in red-zone TD scoring percentage (32.4) and third-down conversion rate (26 percent) and 31st in yards per play (4.3).

Hackett is expected to return as the Jets OC for 2024, although his exact role with the team remains to be seen. According to several sources in The Athletic report, HC Robert Saleh has flirted with the idea of adding to New York's offensive staff and reducing Hackett’s role in favor of a more collaborative approach to play-calling.

In any case, next season may be Hackett's last chance to prove himself as an OC worthy of coaching in the NFL.