Tag: Nathaniel Hackett

Is Robert Saleh a good coach Cowboys fans can be excited about?

The Cowboys reportedly spoke to former Jets HC Robert Saleh, so is that good news or bad news? | From @ReidDHanson

The Dallas Cowboys can’t begin a new chapter in their franchise’s story until they know what it’s titled. Figuring out who will be the next head coach of the Cowboys is Priority No. 1. Earlier in the week Dallas announced they’d be moving on from Mike McCarthy, who throughout his five-year tenure kept the Cowboys in contention, but couldn’t get the team over the proverbial hump.

Jerry Jones isn’t just looking for a coach to keep the Cowboys in contention, but one to guide them through the playoffs. Whoever takes over for McCarthy will likely be at the helm through the final years of Dak Prescott’s career, so getting it right is paramount.

After initially getting linked to a couple high profile names, the Cowboys have now been linked to former New York Jets coach, Robert Saleh.

Saleh, a defensive guru through and through, is considered one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. From 2018 through 2020 Saleh’s San Francisco defenses ranked seventh in the NFL in EPA/play allowed. As defensive coordinator of the 49ers he built a reputation for deep defensive line rotations and traditional Cover-3 looks. He turned his success on the West Coast into a head coaching job on the East Coast when he went to the Jets in 2021.

His first year in New York was predictably poor, with Saleh going 4-13 and ranking dead last in defensive EPA allowed. One year later he propelled his defense up to No. 6 (EPA/play) and in 2023 he finished ranked an impressive No. 3. His turnaround was nothing short of astounding and it cemented his standing in the NFL as a top defensive mind.

Saleh’s career .375 win percentage in New York suggests he’s not as good of a head coach as he is a defensive coordinator. His exact value as a head coach is difficult to determine given the odd circumstances that surrounded him in New York. Aaron Rodgers came onto the scene with considerably more pull than a quarterback traditionally carries. Many speculate Rodgers was the reason Nathaniel Hackett was hired as offensive coordinator and why so many other former teammates of Rodgers were added as well.

At the time of Saleh’s dismissal, it was the offense that was floundering, not the defense that Saleh had clear control of. It’s possible Saleh’s hands were tied on offense throughout most of his time in New York, impacting his ability to truly act as a head coach.

If the Cowboys are interviewing Salah to be a potential defensive coordinator, then it’s hard to be upset. Salah has experience in both odd and even man fronts and he’s flipped from heavy single-high safety looks to more split safety looks. He’s done a little bit of everything defensively and found success every step of the way.

But if the Cowboys are seriously looking at him as a head coach, that’s a little more curious.

A .375 win percentage typically doesn’t result in a second chance right out of the gate. There are the above extraneous circumstances to consider, but a defensive-minded candidate with loads of question marks would be out of character for the Cowboys to target at head coach.

Saleh is a proven NFL coach with real skins on the wall, so he appears to be a much more legitimate option than previous names linked to Dallas. There’s a good chance Jones is looking at Saleh more as a defensive coordinator option than a head coach. If that’s the case, Saleh is one of the best coordinators on the market and the Cowboys should be praised for interest.

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Russell Wilson wasn’t washed but Jets’ Nathaniel Hackett did ‘hack’ his career

Russell Wilson wasn’t washed but Jets’ Nathaniel Hackett did ‘hack’ his career

After two seasons in Denver, many wondered if Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson still had the prowess needed to compete as a starter in the NFL.

Well, after shredding the New York Jets pass defense for 264 pass yards and three total touchdowns on Sunday in a 37-15 Steelers win, its time to recant. 

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Sometimes, a change in coaching can have a ginormous impact on the performance of NFL players. Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was in charge of designing plays for Wilson in 2022 but his pass heavy play scheme didn’t really match Wilson’s play style.

Obviously, Hackett’s scheme didn’t work for Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers this season either, so maybe Hackett is the issue. Furthermore, maybe Hackett is often over credited for the superhuman talent and accuracy Rodgers possessed in his prime. 

Hackett wasn’t around for Rodgers’ Super Bowl XLV victory with the Green Bay Packers either so maybe Hackett’s acclaim is disproportionate as well. 

Nevertheless, Wilson. who attempted just 29 pass attempts in Week 7 against New York, was heavily supported by the power running of Najee Harris and secondary back Jaylen Warren. Similarly to Wilson’s time with the Seattle Seahawks, he won’t be asked to be Tom Brady by head coach Mike Tomlin. He will be summoned to strive in the vertical passing game and sustain drives as a complement to the Steelers defense.

Next time, before analysts go around scorning players with extreme merit, they might consider the circumstantial barriers that could be inhibiting them from success. Luckily for Wilson, he is now part of a franchise that plans on optimizing his skill set and not forcing him into play style that does not fit him.

Broncos Twitter reacts to Jets stripping Nathaniel Hackett of playcalling duties

What does Nathaniel Hackett even do with the Jets now?

The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh this week but opted to keep offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on staff despite their offense struggling through the first five games of the season.

New York’s decision surprised NFL fans and pundits. Their next move was less surprising: interim coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Thursday that Hackett has been stripped of playcalling duties and Todd Downing is taking over.

Saleh planned to make that same change, but he was fired. Ulbrich apparently liked Saleh’s plan and he’s now implementing it.

No longer tasked with calling plays, Hackett’s role with the Jets is unclear, but they aren’t firing him. Here’s a sampling of how Denver Broncos fans and pundits reacted to the news on Twitter/X.

Hackett served as Denver’s head coach in 2022. He was fired with two games remaining that season after starting 4-11. Last offseason, new Broncos coach Sean Payton said Denver’s 2022 season “might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

It seems that Payton’s comments have been justified.

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Jets are reeling after loss to Broncos ‘shook the organization’

The Jets are spiraling out of control and it started when their loss to the Broncos “shook the organization,” according to ESPN.

The New York Jets are a mess, and the Denver Broncos are at least partially to blame.

The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, two days after a 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London and nine days after a 10-9 loss to the Broncos at home. That loss to Denver apparently “shook the organization,” according to a report from ESPN’s Rich Cimini.

Former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett has also been a hot topic during the drama. Hackett is the Jets’ offensive coordinator and New York does not plan to fire him despite their offense ranking eighth-worst in points per game (18.6) this season.

The Jets’ decision to fire Saleh and keep Hackett was a curious one, and it sparked speculation that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is running the show.

Before he was fired, Saleh was considering firing Hackett, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. Saleh ultimately opted to demote Hackett, announcing Tuesday morning that passing game coordinator Todd Downing would take over play-calling duties, according to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio.

Not long after demoting Hackett, Saleh was fired.

“It’s unclear whether the timing is coincidental or connected,” Florio wrote. “Regardless, Hackett was out as play-caller — and then Saleh was out as coach.”

Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will take over as New York’s interim head coach following Saleh’s departure. It’s unclear if Hackett will remain the playcaller under Ulbrich or if Downing’s promotion under Saleh will stand. It’s a messy situation, one that started spiraling out of control after an ugly loss to the Broncos.

As Scotty Gange of 9News pointed out on Twitter/X, Denver’s defense has gotten a quarterback benched (Gardner Minshew) and a coach fired (Saleh) over the last two weeks. We’re eager to see what follows after the Broncos host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

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Broncos Twitter reacts to Jets firing Robert Saleh and keeping Nathaniel Hackett

The Jets opted to fire Robert Saleh and keep Nathaniel Hackett. Here’s how Broncos Country reacted to the news on Twitter/X.

The New York Jets made a surprising move on Tuesday when they fired head coach Robert Saleh, sparking speculation that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is getting his way.

Surprisingly, the Jets are not firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett despite their offense ranking sixth-worst in yards per game (286.6) and eighth-worst in points per game (18.6) this season.

Hackett served as the Denver Broncos head coach in 2022 before being fired with two games remaining that season. He went 4-11 with the Broncos.

Fans and pundits in Denver were surprised by New York’s decision to give Saleh the boot and stick with Hackett. Here’s a sampling of how Broncos Country reacted to the news on Twitter/X on Tuesday.

Saleh, 45, will likely become a top defensive coordinator candidate. That could become notable in Denver if Vance Joseph leaves for a head coach job in 2025, but the Broncos do have a strong in-house candidate in Jim Leonhard. For now, Joseph remains the DC in Denver and Saleh is a coaching free agent. And Hackett, somehow, remains the Jets’ OC.

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Broncos were fortunate to avoid Aaron Rodgers disaster in 2022

The Jets are a mess seemingly in large part because Aaron Rodgers is running the show. Thank goodness the Broncos did not trade for him.

When the Denver Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach in 2022, there was heavy speculation that the franchise did so with the hopes of luring quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Denver.

If that truly was the plan, it backfired as Rodgers opted to instead remain with the Green Bay Packers for another season. The Broncos then traded for Russell Wilson, which ended up being a disastrous trade, but landing Rodgers might have been even worse for the franchise.

Rodgers ended up joining the New York Jets one year later and now just one season and five games into his tenure, the veteran franchise has turned the franchise upside down.

The Jets fired respected coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, a move that appears to be Rodgers getting his way. Meanwhile, there’s been no news that New York plans to fire Hackett, who now serves as their offensive coordinator.

With Rodgers and Hackett running the show, the Jets have the sixth-worst offense in the NFL, averaging 286.6 yards yards per game. New York’s 18.6 points per game rank eighth-worst in the league.

The Broncos, meanwhile, moved on from both Hackett and Wilson and the team is now led by Sean Payton and they have a 24-year-old quarterback in Bo Nix. Had they successfully landed Rodgers three years ago, Denver likely could have still had Hackett and Rodgers, who will turn 41 in December.

The Jets are a mess in large part because they acquired an aging Rodgers and seemingly let him run the show. The Broncos are fortunate to have avoided such a disaster.

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Toxic Brotherhood: Jets’ Aaron Rodgers has had enough of OC Nathaniel Hackett

Toxic Brotherhood: Jets’ Aaron Rodgers has had enough of OC Nathaniel Hackett

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers cannot continue to excuse the horrible play-calling ability of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. 

With a staff of exceptional personnel; wide receivers Garrett Wilson, Malachi Corley, Xavier Gipson, and Mike Williams, plus running backs Breece Hall, and Braelon Allen (who doesn’t even get the ball), there is no reason Hackett went nearly the entire first quarter without a first down.

54 masterful (sarcasm) pass plays yielded a measly 29 completions, three interceptions, three sacks, and four offensive turnovers. The two Rodgers’ touchdown passes were a result of improvise and impeccable accuracy, and not Hackett’s play design. Besides the cry for brotherhood, there’s literally been nothing to praise Hackett about this season.

Ultimately, fans want Hackett out, and none of Rodgers’ aimless rebuttals will suffice anymore. Rodgers’ gray-face prestige and zeal are the sole reasons Hackett has not been removed. After a 2-3 start, with clear offensive deficiencies, there’s literally no where else to place the blame but directly on Hackett’s shoulders.

Broncos and Jets to face off in second edition of the Nathaniel Hackett Bowl

Nathaniel Hackett and the Jets beat the Broncos 31-21 last season. Denver gets a rematch on Sunday.

The New York Jets (2-1) are set to host the Denver Broncos (1-2) in Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season on Sunday.

The Jets’ offense, of course, is coached by Nathaniel Hackett, who returned to Denver last season and beat the team that fired him less than a year after he was hired as the Broncos’ head coach in 2022.

There was some hoopla before that matchup because earlier in the offseason, current Denver coach Sean Payton slammed the previous regime, saying 2022 “might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

Hackett said hearing those comments was frustrating, and Jets coaches and players quickly came to his defense. New York then beat the Broncos 31-21 at Empower Field at Mile High, giving Hackett the last laugh, at least in 2023.

Now the two teams are set for a rematch with Payton coaching Denver’s squad and Hackett coaching the Jets’ offense under head coach Robert Saleh. They’ll face off at 11:00 a.m. MT on Sunday (view the TV map here).

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Jets’ OC Nathaniel Hackett should be criticized for play calling vs. 49ers

New York Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett has unreasonably  avoided a large amounts of criticism after his dismal play calling in week 1.

The New York Jets had collective struggles versus the San Francisco 49ers in week 1. Still, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett deserves criticism for his scheme and personnel packages in the Jets’ loss.

Instead of criticizing Hackett, many have chosen to slander the Jets’ defense which spent 38 total minutes on the field in week 1 and literally gave up only two touchdowns. For context, no NFL team averaged more than 33 minutes of possession the entire 2023-24 season.

Through ten total offensive drives, Hackett produced two offensive turnovers, a turnover on downs, and three punts. More importantly, the Jets’ offense produced a total of three rushing first downs which is inexcusable. Since running back Breece Hall carried 16 of the teams 19 total rushing attempts, it is reasonable to suggests that Hackett should deploy other running backs on the depth chart to assist Hall inside the trenches.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to sneak in a passing touchdown to wide receiver Allen Lazard but Rodgers’ witty play should not be an accreditation to Hackett’s brilliance.

The offensive issues are very fixable and Hackett will be in the film room this week to figure it out. However, Hackett cannot approach week 2 with the same rigid attack believing he will get different results.

Breece Hall might not be the best HB on the Jets’ depth chart

Breece Hall had just 54 yards rushing vs. the 49ers and OC Nathaniel Hackett should consider playing other HB’s on the Jets’ depth chart.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall finished week 1 with a dismal 3.4 yards per carry average versus the San Francisco 49ers. Perhaps offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett should consider delegating reps to other backs on the team depth chart.



With the inability to establish the run, the Jets’ offense became one dimensional and were bullied by the 49ers’ pass rush. Hackett will have to relinquish his ideals and understand that his rigid approach led to the exhaustion of the Jets’ defense that spent 38:40 minutes on the field.

Moreover, Jets’ running backs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis are well able to take reps with the starters and should be deployed in and out of personnel packages throughout the game. Hall, who fumbled early in the first quarter and dropped a pass in the 2nd half has not gained enough merit to work as the sole proprietor of the teams’ rushing attack.

Through 16 total carries, Hall produced just 54 yards and that stat is mildly deceiving considering his sole 16-yard run.

Ultimately, Hall should remain the starter, but Allen just might be the more serviceable running back in short yardage and red-zone situations. Davis and Hall can thus function interchangeably as pass catcher out of the backfield in third down situations.