When the New York Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett to be the team’s offensive coordinator, many assumed it was in an attempt to lure Aaron Rodgers to the team after Hackett and Rodgers developed a strong bond during their time with the Green Bay Packers. But Hackett claims the decision was more about the relationship between him and head coach Robert Saleh.
Hackett said that he respects Saleh after working with him previously and was excited to join his staff in New York.
“Robert, he’s the guy that I respected for so long after working with him and now what he has done in his career,” Hackett said, via the New York Daily News. “I have some great memories from when my dad [Paul Hackett] was here [as offensive coordinator from 2001 to 2004]. Back then, with Chad Pennington, Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae and that crew winning the division, those were some great times. I think all those things added up and I think it made it right for me and my family.”
Obviously, Hackett will now have a chance to coach Aaron Rodgers once again after the team acquired him from the Packers, but it sounds like he would have been happy in New York even if Rodgers never came.
