There have been a number of theories floated about why the New York Jets decided to fire Robert Saleh five games into the season, and one of the more interesting ones has to do with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Saleh was fired on Tuesday in the wake of New York’s 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a press conference that the decision was solely his. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Saleh may have been on the verge of firing Hackett before Johnson fired the head coach.
Jones was told by sources that it is possible Saleh would have fired Hackett as soon as Tuesday if Saleh did not lose his own job. Saleh was likely going to give the offensive coordinator job to quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator Todd Downing.
Hackett, of course, is good friends with Rodgers. That is why some are theorizing that Rodgers knew Saleh was about to fire Hackett and suggested Johnson fire Saleh instead.
hearing the news that his buddy OC Hackett might be fired, Aaron Rodgers picked up the red phone on Monday night direct to Woody Johnson's private line and told him to fire Saleh
that is exactly how this story is shaping up https://t.co/K2QtfzfnW3
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 8, 2024
For what it’s worth, one report claimed the relationship between Rodgers and Saleh had been in a good place. There certainly seemed to be some tension between the two after New York’s Week 4 loss, however.
Rodgers and Hackett worked together in Green Bay when Hackett was the offensive coordinator of the Packers from 2019-2021. That relationship helped Hackett get the job with the Jets. Rodgers passionately defended Hackett last year when Sean Payton took aim at the coach over Hackett’s disastrous 2022 season with the Denver Broncos.
To make matters more interesting, the Jets reportedly have no plans to fire Hackett despite the team’s offensive struggles.
Johnson insists Rodgers had nothing to do with Saleh being fired, but it would hardly be a surprise if the 40-year-old quarterback was consulted.
