Jets Hire Former Broncos Coach Hackett to Run Offense

The Latest York Jets have hired former Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator.

The team announced the hiring Thursday of the 43-year-old Hackett, who replaces Mike LaFleur after coach Robert Saleh and the Jets interviewed a minimum of 15 candidates for the emptiness.

Hackett went 4-11 in lower than one season as head coach of the Broncos, who fired him a day after Denver’s 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas. Hackett replaced Vic Fangio last January but wasn’t in a position to construct an offense that suited veteran Russell Wilson with the Broncos.

With the Jets, Hackett shall be coming to a team that struggled mightily on offense in two seasons under LaFleur and is facing a serious query at quarterback. Zach Wilson has not lived as much as expectations after being chosen second overall within the 2021 draft. Mike White and Joe Flacco, who each began at times in Wilson’s place, are scheduled to be free agents.

Jets owner Woody Johnson said after the season, during which Latest York finished 7-10 and on a six-game losing streak, he would “absolutely” be on board with acquiring a veteran quarterback within the offseason.

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Hackett’s arrival will fuel some speculation about whether the Jets could pursue Aaron Rodgers, whose playing future is uncertain. Hackett and Rodgers have a connection: He served because the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019-21 with Rodgers because the quarterback.

Hackett and Saleh first worked together in Jacksonville from 2015-16 under coach Doug Marrone, when Hackett was the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach and Saleh the linebackers coach.

The Jets also announced Keith Carter was hired because the team’s offensive line coach/run game coordinator, replacing the fired John Benton. Carter was Tennessee’s O-line coach the last five seasons.

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