Nathaniel Hackett’s job status revealed amid Jets’ firing of Robert Saleh

Dec 18, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Saleh is now out of a job, but it appears that Nathaniel Hackett still has some wiggle room.

The stunning news broke on Tuesday that the New York Jets have decided to fire their head coach Saleh after three-plus seasons in charge. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is now set to step in as interim coach for the rest of the season.

Dianna Russini of ESPN reported on the job status of the Jets offensive coordinator Hackett amid the Saleh news. Russini says that the team does not plan on also firing Hackett.

It seems that most of the Jets’ struggles this season have come on the offensive side of the ball. They rank 25th in the league in points per game (18.6), 19th in passing offense (206.2 yards per game), and a woeful 32nd in rushing offense (80.4 yards per game). That would appear to fall more so on the OC Hackett rather than on the defensive-minded head coach Saleh, especially after the Jets also ranked 31st in total offense last season.

But Hackett has a major point in his favor due to his history with Jets QB Aaron Rodgers — Hackett was also Rodgers’ OC on the Green Bay Packers from 2019-21. While Hackett has done extremely little to inspire confidence otherwise (with the Jets reportedly having considered ousting him multiple times in the past already), it looks like he has managed to survive yet again.