Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh informed his coaching staff that he would be removing play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett before his firing Tuesday, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.
Saleh reportedly intended to give offensive play-calling responsibilities to passing game coordinator Todd Downing but was fired by owner Woody Johnson shortly after the meeting.
The 44-year-old Downing previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and 2022. He joined New York last season.
New York’s offense has struggled to produce since Hackett was hired in 2023. The Jets are currently 27th in the league in total offense (286.6 yards per game). The return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers after an Achilles injury wiped out most of his 2023 campaign hasn’t been enough to bolster an offense that also features Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson.
The Jets’ decision to dismiss Saleh after five games appeared to catch many off guard both inside the team’s facility and across the league. The 45-year-old posted a 20-36 record on the sideline for the Jets.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named the interim coach as the club prepares for a divisional matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. While Ulbrich said he doesn’t envision further changes to the staff, he didn’t rule out re-evaluating coaches’ responsibilities.
“We’re gonna take a deep dive on that in the next 36 hours and look at every possibility, but I do not see changes in necessarily titles, in positions,” Ulbrich said, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein. “As far as responsibilities and the process itself, we’re gonna take a hard look at that.”
Hackett reunited with Rodgers after the pair formed a bond during their shared tenure with the Green Bay Packers. Ulbrich indicated that the four-time MVP will be a factor in deciding who his play-caller is.
Meanwhile, Johnson expressed optimism that the club’s coaching change will give the Jets a chance to win now.
“I think one of the reasons that I decided to make a coaching change at the highest level is exactly that: We need to find ways to win,” Johnson said, per Epstein. “We’re not going to find those ways by doing the same thing over and over and over.”
