Jets Offense Has Regressed Under Nathaniel Hackett, So Why Is Robert Saleh Committed To Him?

Despite the fact that the New York Jets had the 28th-ranked offense in terms of points last season, the team’s offensive unit has actually regressed under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Hackett, of course, was the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022 and didn’t even make it through a full season before he was fired. Nevertheless, due to his relationship with Aaron Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay, the Jets hired Hackett in order to lure Rodgers to New York City.

And it worked! The Jets were able to trade for Rodgers earlier this year. The rest, as they say, is history: Rodgers tore his Achilles just four snaps into his career with the team.

Without Rodgers, the Jets have been forced to turn back to Zach Wilson, who — despite the fact that he has more weapons than he’s ever had before and a receiver in Garrett Wilson has the talent to be among the league’s best — is leading an offensive unit that’s actually regressed since last season.

As pointed out by SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets are gaining fewer yards, both in the air and on the ground, and scoring fewer points than they were in 2022 under then-OC Mike LaFleur.

This, ultimately, begs the question: how does Hackett still have a job? At the time of this writing, the Jets haven’t scored a touchdown in 11 quarters (that’s over 2.5 games). And while injuries on the offensive line certainly don’t help, there is simply no excuse for how insipid the unit has looked so far this year.

Not only that but when things are going wrong for an NFL team, the coordinator of the struggling unit is usually the fall guy. And still, head coach Robert Saleh remains committed to both him and Zach Wilson to such an extent that some NFL fans think a conspiracy would explain why.

Take last week, for example, when NYC radio host and Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay had Saleh dead to rights when he asked him why backup Trevor Siemian couldn’t get any snaps.

“I’m gonna plead the fifth on this one,” Saleh said. To be clear, however, his answer was much longer than just this one quote.

While most Jets fans would be naturally inclined to believe that if there *was* a power-that-be forcing Saleh to start Wilson and keep Hackett, it’d be the general manager Joe Douglas, or the owner Woody Johnson. But Douglas has already proven his willingness to make trades and Johnson spent a lot of money to make the Jets competitive this season. So, who’s left?

Perhaps Rodgers, who likely spent the entire offseason envisioning himself not just as the savior of the Jets but of New York City entirely, is the reason Gang Green didn’t go out and get someone like Joshua Dobbs.

Since the Achilles injury on September 11, Rodgers has been clear about his intention to return this season and even revealed this weekend that his target is mid-December. But if someone like Dobbs had the Jets’ offense humming, maybe they’d tell Rodgers to rest up until next year. What about if a competent offensive coordinator came in and fixed Wilson, who clearly has all of the physical tools necessary to be a promising NFL QB?

Following their loss to the Las Vegas Raiders (who have an interim/rookie head coach and rookie quarterback, mind you), the chances the 4-5 Jets are a team worth returning to by mid-December are becoming increasingly unlikely.