The New York Jets are interviewing an offensive coordinator candidate with a connection to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The New York Jets have an important offseason ahead of them. They have a playoff-caliber roster built up, but they desperately need a quality quarterback. Zach Wilson hasn’t panned out in his two years with the team, and the team mutually moved on from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Perhaps the incoming offensive coordinator would provide a hint at who the Jets will bring in at quarterback this offseason?
According to Dianna Russini of ESPN, the Jets interviewed former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett for their offensive coordinator position on Wednesday. Hackett spent time as an offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers from 2019 until 2021, where their starting quarterback was Aaron Rodgers.
Could Nathaniel Hackett interview hint at Jets pursuit of Aaron Rodgers?
It is no secret that Rodgers is a big fan of Hackett, he heaped praise on him during his time with the team, after moving on to coach the Broncos, and after he was let go by the team late this season. He was the coordinator when Rodgers won back-to-back NFL MVP awards.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean that by interviewing Hackett that the Jets want to acquire Rodgers.
Prior to his time with the Packers, Hackett was the quarterbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2015-16. On that same coaching staff with Hackett was current Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who was the linebackers coach for the Jaguars from 2014-16.
When the Packers 2022 season ended with a Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions, Rodgers’ future with the team once again was in the spotlight. He has spoken openly about potentially retiring even after he signed his lucrative three-year, $150.8 million contract extension last season. Now, with the season over and the team needing to make a decision regarding Jordan Love’s fifth-year option, the NFL world is waiting for his decision.
During his most recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers said that he still isn’t ready to make a decision regarding his future with the team just yet.
The Jets are going to be active in the quarterback market this offseason, as that position prevented them from making the playoffs. But first, they need to bring in an offensive coordinator. Just because they are interviewing Hackett doesn’t mean they are definitely hiring him. We’ll just have to stay tuned until the Jets make their choice.