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Despite the fact that they’re on the verge of posting their third straight losing season and 13th-straight playoff-less season, New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas are reportedly safe and are expected to return next season.
Not only that but embattled offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is also poised to keep his job, too.
According to a new report from The Athletic, the Jets ownership is giving the coaching staff and general manager another change and it’s “all because of Aaron Rodgers.”
Rodgers, of course, has yet to complete a pass as a member of the New York Jets as he tore his achilles just four plays into the 2023 season.
Internally, the Jets are operating as if the whole regime — Saleh, Douglas and even offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett — will be back in 2024. That’s because Aaron Rodgers is their lifeline.
Rodgers has the power to ensure their job security: If he says that he’ll return only if this coaching staff remains intact, then it will be locked in and safe. Johnson values Rodgers’ opinion and it would be surprising if he didn’t seek it out.
While it’s certainly not a surprising development out of Florham Park, it’s definitely a disappointing one for Jets fans, as Hackett, in particular, has done nothing to validate his position as offensive coordinator other than being buddies with Rodgers.
In addition to Hackett, Rodgers is also responsible for the Jets bringing in washed-up players such as Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Dalvin Cook, Billy Turner, and Tim Boyle — all of whom have been generally useless this season.
As for why Rodgers is so steadfast in his commitment to Hackett, his reasons are, perhaps unsurprisingly, selfish ones:
“I won MVP twice in the same offense, so I’m a believer. I’m a believer in the offense,” Rodgers said earlier in November in the midst of the team’s ugly touchdown drought.
Despite the fact that the Jets are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, reports indicate that Rodgers is still going to try and suit up for the team in the final month of the 2023 season.