The Jets have fired Head Coach Robert Saleh, apparently non-plussed by the team's 2-3 start. Saleh is a defensive-minded head coach, and in the team's losses the last two weeks, New York's defense allowed 10 points to Denver and 16 to Minnesota. So this should fix things?
Most likely, Saleh was fired because he and Aaron Rodgers don't get along for whatever reason, which is fine. It's a tale as old as time that teams will side with the franchise quarterback over the head coach in such disputes more often than not, as Dan Reeves and a number of other fired coaches from years past could tell you.
But removing Saleh from the equation sems unlikely to fix the Jets. It's their offense that's been a disappointment, but offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is buddy-buddy with Rodgers. That keeps getting him work even while his offenses have struggled.
Hackett was hired as head coach by the Broncos back in 2022, which many believed was an effort to lure Rodgers out of Green Bay. He was fired during the season, and has now spent the last two years with the Jets, first with Rodgers injured, and currently with Rodgers getting knocked around pretty good. If Hackett is bringing much offensive acumen to any of those teams, it's not clear from the results.
Over the past three seasons, there have been 25 offenses (out of 96) averaging under 19 points per game. The only coordinator with his mark on three of those offenses is Hackett. Data from pro-football-reference.com used in compiling this table.
| OFFENSES AVERAGING UNDER 19 PTS/G, 2022-PRESENT | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Offense | Pts/G | Yds/G |
| 2023 | Atlanta | 18.9 | 334.3 |
| 2022 | Washington | 18.9 | 330.3 |
| 2024 | LA Rams | 18.8 | 324.0 |
| 2024 | NY Jets | 18.6 | 286.6 |
| 2022 | Tampa Bay | 18.4 | 346.7 |
| 2024 | Pittsburgh | 18.4 | 299.4 |
| 2022 | Pittsburgh | 18.1 | 322.6 |
| 2022 | LA Rams | 18.1 | 280.5 |
| 2023 | Tennessee | 17.9 | 289.0 |
| 2023 | Pittsburgh | 17.9 | 304.3 |
| 2024 | NY Giants | 17.8 | 321.4 |
| 2022 | Tennessee | 17.5 | 296.8 |
| 2022 | NY Jets | 17.4 | 318.2 |
| 2022 | Houston | 17.0 | 283.5 |
| 2022 | Indianapolis | 17.0 | 311.6 |
| 2024 | LA Chargers | 17.0 | 263.8 |
| 2022 | Denver | 16.9 | 325.1 |
| 2024 | Carolina | 16.6 | 291.2 |
| 2024 | Cleveland | 15.8 | 239.4 |
| 2023 | NY Jets | 15.8 | 268.6 |
| 2023 | NY Giants | 15.6 | 280.0 |
| 2023 | Carolina | 13.9 | 265.3 |
| 2023 | New England | 13.9 | 276.2 |
| 2024 | New England | 12.4 | 250.8 |
| 2024 | Miami | 12.0 | 302.4 |
In the table, Hackett offenses are in bold. Also shown are total yards for each offense. His Denver offense was respectable, but both Jets offenses have been under 290 total yards.
I don't know all the reasons behind Saleh's firing. I'm sure we'll hear plenty over the next few days, with the New York media grabbing hold of this one like a starving dog would a juicy bone.
But I can't see things getting better for New York's offense, fantasy or otherwise, with Hackett in charge.
--Andy Richardson