The New York Jets weren’t exactly passive in improving their roster during the NFL offseason. Major free agents, strong trades, and an efficient draft class were all parts of building a roster that is as talented as the Jets have had in recent memory.
Despite the popularity from the front office, there is one major question mark surrounding the Jets in 2024: the coaching staff.
That question will only get more serious after Monday morning’s report.
Jets Explored Replacing Nathaniel Hackett
SNY Jets and Giants beat reporter Connor Hughes spoke on the Jets’ previous interest in finding experienced offensive coaches to help current offensive coordinator and play-caller Nathaniel Hackett.
To Hughes, the notion that the Jets were looking to even replace Hackett in his role was real.
“The Jets made legitimate attempts this offseason to hire someone who would, essentially, replace Hackett,” Hughes wrote in a mailbag Monday.
“Not as a new offensive coordinator, but a title above who would run the show. The Jets had enough things they needed to address this offseason without replacing areas they’re content with. That pursuit tells me, internally, there are legitimate concerns with Hackett’s ability to successfully run things.”
Jets starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers has consistently defended Hackett throughout their time together. Yet, this report came after New York finished with the second-worst offense in the league in 2023 and recorded some of the worst third-down and red-zone offensive numbers in league history.
Much of that was tied to Rodgers’ injury. The torn Achilles forced much of the Jets’ season to be altered quickly, with the coaching staff unable to get the best out of a Zach Wilson-led offense.
Hughes also noted that while the Jets are stacked on paper as an overall roster, the biggest question that remains to be answered is with Hackett as a play-caller. And it appears New York wasn’t exactly confident in the leader’s plan.
Are Jets Right To Trust Aaron Rodgers, Hackett Duo?
The Rodgers-Hackett duo goes back to their Green Bay Packers days when the latter helped the former reach MVP status in back-to-back seasons. Since then, though, Hackett’s career has been on a downward trajectory.
After being named head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022, Hackett was fired after just a 4-11 mark, with questions surrounding his locker-room leadership being a major turning point. He since got the offensive coordinator role with the Jets as a way to entice Rodgers to want to come to the Big Apple in the first place.
Now that both are here and one has struggled to show a sign of competency, are the Jets right to trust in the duo?
As with any QB/coach pair, how the two operate hinges largely on the quarterback’s performance. With a healthy Rodgers, the Jets are expected to be a top team in the AFC and the NFL as a whole this year. Without him, it could be much of the same for New York.
Hughes’ report will do little to surprise Jets fans. They know the big question mark surrounding the team is their offensive staff, and it remains the one thing that could get in the way of a potentially promising season.
Now we at least know that the team is aware of it themselves at least.