Nathaniel Hackett stripped of play-calling duties in another huge Jets change

Two days after becoming the Jets interim head coach, Jeff Ulbrich put his first stamp on the team. Ulbrich announced Thursday he had stripped offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett of play-calling duties.

Passing game coordinator Todd Downing will take over.

It is a humiliating move for Hackett, who is in his second year as offensive coordinator after a disastrous one-year stint as Broncos coach.

It also reflects poorly on quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been Hackett’s biggest champion.

The Jets hired Hackett in 2023 with the idea he could help Rodgers to the team.

Former Jets coach Robert Saleh had planned to make the same move before he was fired Tuesday, according to sources.

“After a lot of time to think about it, I did not make this decision easily by any means, I’m gonna make Todd Downing the play caller of the New York Jets going forward,” Ulbrich said. “This is more of a by-product of a different take on things. I’m not saying it’s a better or worse take on things by any means, just a different take on things, a fresh approach. Ultimately, Todd will have full say on the game plan and, ultimately, the plays that are called in the game.”

The Jets offense has been awful this season. They are dead last in rushing yards per game and have not shown improvement even with Rodgers at quarterback.

It is a big reason why Saleh was fired.

Hackett and Rodgers are extremely close from their time in Green Bay, but Rodgers said he understood why the move was being made.

“I knew there would be changes after they let Robert go,” Rodgers said. “I had conversations with [Ulbrich] over the two days. I knew that he was thinking about it, leaning toward it. I told him I’d back him up whatever he decided.”

Ulbrich said Hackett was disappointed but is willing to do whatever is asked of him.

The Jets are not stripping Hackett of the offensive coordinator title, and it sounds like Ulbrich offered him the chance to either stay or leave the organization if that is what he wanted.

“I feel so fortunate that he’s staying with us,” Ulbrich said. “Here’s a guy who has been a head coach in this league and willing to draw cards, willing to do whatever it takes. I feel so fortunate that he’s on our staff and he’s in our lives.”

Downing, 44, has been with the Jets for the last two seasons. He was the offensive coordinator for the Raiders in 2017 and the Titans from 2021-22.

The Titans got worse every year under Downing and he was fired following the 2022 season.

Tennessee was No. 2 in the NFL in 2020 under Arthur Smith but they sank to No. 17 in 2021 and No. 30 in 2022 under Downing.

There was also an off-field incident in Downing’s final year in Tennessee. He was arrested for driving under the influence a few hours after a Titans win and later served 48 hours in jail.

Ulbrich said the offense won’t undergo “wholesale” changes but he sounds like he wants the personality of the offense to change.

“For every Tennessee offense that I ever went against when Todd was the play caller there, they were tough,” Ulbrich said. “They were ruthless. They finished. They ran the ball. They played on their terms. And there’s definitely a style that appealed to me in the way.”

Downing will make his debut as the Jets play caller Monday night against the Bills. Rodgers was asked what the Jets specifically need to do better.

“We’ve got to run the ball better. I’ve got to play better,” Rodgers said. “We’ve got to be better on first and second down.”

Rodgers said the Jets have been plagued offensively by one player not doing his job on each play.

“We have to be on the same page. I think that’s been the biggest thing,” Rodgers said. “It’s been a lot of 10 guys on the same page. Sometimes it’s been me, sometimes it’s been a back, sometimes it’s a receiver, sometimes offensive line. Just too many times. It’s hard to win when only 10 guys are doing it right.”