The news keeps coming fast and furious about the New York Jets’ decision to fire Robert Saleh – some true, some not.
In a since-refuted report, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones claimed that Saleh considered firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett before Woody Johnson ultimately axed the head coach. He would have replaced Hackett with quarterbacks coach Todd Downing, who previously called plays for the Raiders in 2017 and the Titans in 2021-22.
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New at @NFLonCBS: Ousted Jets head coach Robert Saleh was considering firing OC Nathaniel Hackett before he himself was fired Tuesday morning https://t.co/LwMHoEJH61
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) October 8, 2024
SNY’s Connor Hughes rebutted the report about firing Hackett. He instead reported that Saleh was merely going to strip Hackett of his play-calling duties and give them to Downing.
SOURCES: Former #Jets HC Robert Saleh was never going to fire offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. That was not happening.
However he was going to demote his game day responsibilities this week. Saleh made decision to give play-calling to Todd Downing because of the… pic.twitter.com/Do7l2jqbwa
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) October 8, 2024
In Woody Johnson’s conference call with reporters, he was asked how firing Saleh would fix the offense. He generally evaded the question while stating the offensive issues would be fixed. He also danced around Hackett’s status.
Given the Jets’ offensive struggles, the most obvious candidate for dismissal was Hackett. Removing Saleh may change some of the philosophical issues surrounding the Jets, but it is unlikely to shift the schematic and communication issues that pervade on offense.
From an outsider’s perspective, this will undoubtedly fuel the rumors that Aaron Rodgers was the driving force behind Saleh’s firing. Rodgers is blindly loyal to Hackett, which is likely the only reason the offensive coordinator was retained after last season’s disastrous offensive output. If Saleh was thinking of removing Rodgers’ guy as the play-caller and then got fired himself, the dots seem to connect that way despite Johnson’s insistence that he did not discuss the change with Rodgers.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich stated he does not anticipate any changes in the offensive coaching staff before the Jets play the Bills in Week 6. However, he danced around a question about who the play-caller will be, although he also stated he does not foresee any changes in titles. He added that he will “take a deep dive” on the offense and “look at all possibilities.”
Ulrbich on the offensive staff: There will be no changes in titles, but they will take a “deep dive” into everything — ie playcalling. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 8, 2024
Hackett’s status with the Jets remains uncertain despite Johnson’s and Ulbrich’s best efforts to circumvent all questions. That Saleh was considering removing the offensive coordinator himself is an interesting layer in the entire saga.
