More changes are in store for the New York Jets. New interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced Thursday that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett would no longer be the team’s play-caller. Hackett’s replacement as play-caller is Todd Downing, the team’s quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
Jeff Ulbrich announces that Todd Downing will continue the action for the Jets’ offense
Ulbrich says Nathaniel Hackett will continue to be a “big part of the success we have going forward.” pic.twitter.com/R5soBKKBoC
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 10, 2024
Ulbrich replaced Robert Saleh, who was fired earlier this week. During Thursday’s announcement, Ulbrich said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is close to Hackett after working with him for years with the Green Bay Packers, understood and supported the decision to promote Downing and demote Hackett.
Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson summarized the drama in Tuesday’s QB Room column before the play-calling announcement was made official:
There are conflicting stories from sources about what exactly happened on Tuesday. One is that Saleh arrived at the facility on Tuesday, arranged a staff meeting and announced that he had stripped Hackett’s play-calling duties and assigned them to passing game coordinator Todd Downing … and then was fired by Johnson. Another is that Saleh arrived at the facility intending to call the meeting where Hackett’s play-calling duties were cut, but was fired before the meeting took place. And a third is that Saleh merely considered taking away Hackett’s play-calling, but was fired before he could make a decision. The bills coming out of the Jets facility are messy at best. …
Ulbrich said he will continue to defend.
The Jets are 2-3 this season and have struggled mightily on offense. Downing will get his first opportunity as a play-caller on Monday night when the Jets face the Buffalo Bills at 8:15 PM ET.
