In a move akin to a last-ditch Hail Mary pass, the New York Jets have doubled down on retaining offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, which seems driven more by appeasing their quarterback Aaron Rodgers than by sound football strategy. This high-stakes gamble has drawn scathing criticism, with analyst Nick Wright bluntly stating on First Things First, “They don’t trust Nathaniel Hackett… They tried to replace him but let him keep the title because it’s what Aaron wants.”

The decision to stick with Hackett comes despite his checkered past as a play-caller and head coach, a fact highlighted by Chris Broussard: “The success he had with Rodgers when he won the two MVPs, he was the OC in Green Bay but he wasn’t calling the plays… And then you saw him call plays in Denver and that went so badly that he stopped calling plays when he was the head coach.”

Hackett’s inconsistent track record has fueled skepticism about his competence, a sentiment echoed by Sean Payton, who infamously quipped that Hackett’s stint in Denver was “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”

Yet, in a move straight out of a Hollywood drama, Rodgers has brushed aside these doubts, asserting with unwavering loyalty (via Around the NFL), “You should trust me, and I trust Nathaniel… At the end of the day, I think you gotta trust his and my working relationship.”

The stakes are undoubtedly high, and the Jets’ management finds itself in a precarious balancing act, trying to keep Rodgers happy while also fielding a competitive team. As NFL analyst Rich Cimini bluntly put it, “The Jets are probably out of mulligans,” underscoring the urgency of the situation.

With the season fast approaching, all eyes will be on this curious dynamic, with the team’s success or failure hinging on whether their gamble on Hackett pays off or ends up as a costly interception in their quest for a Super Bowl run. In the words of the iconic Al Pacino from Any Given Sunday, “The game is designed to break you,” and the Jets’ decision to keep Hackett on board has all the makings of a gritty football drama.

Saleh’s growing influence on the Jets’ offense led by Aaron Rodgers

An intriguing narrative brewing behind the scenes: the growing influence of their head coach Robert Saleh on his team’s offensive strategy. He was a defensive guru but now he has started to share his thoughts about an offense led by Rodgers and guided by Hackett. This development has not gone unnoticed by Broussard who commented, “The head coach Robert Saleh is kind of getting a little more involved in the offense… because he was in San Francisco with Kyle Shanahan, the West Coast offense… He knows that offense.”

Should this prove true, it would imply that Saleh is actively participating to improve NYJ’s offensive play calling which may denote a lack of faith in Hackett. According to Wright, “Robert Saleh has been involved in the offensive meetings… They are doing it because they don’t trust Nathaniel Hackett.” In addition, owner Woody Johnson has recently made public statements questioning whether he truly believes in Hackett or not.

While speaking about Coach Saleh’s input about this matter, Aaron Rodgers stated, “I think Robert, to his credit, is taking a deeper role in the offense… He’s brought some really good ideas to the table.” However, this transformation also raises concerns regarding Hackett’s control over his coaching staff as well as overall trust within the staff. In addition to this Connor Hughes’ report explained how during the off-season “legitimate attempts” were made by the Jets to demote Hackett adding more fuel to speculations.

In an effort to address potential instability, Saleh’s increased input is seen as a bid to “make the offense ‘injury-proof”, particularly after last season’s woes with Rodgers sidelined for most of the campaign. This proactive stance could prove crucial in a make-or-break season, as cornerback Sauce Gardner bluntly stated, “I feel like we can win the championship – Super Bowl. We got the guys, we got the coaches. We got everything we need.”