After one major modification, the New York Jets’ retrofit continued Thursday morning.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who replaced fired Robert Saleh two days ago, announced that Todd Downing will effectively (if not officially) move into the offensive coordinator role that’s been occupied by Nathaniel Hackett since he was hired last year.
‘Regarding the staff, after a lot of time to think about it – and did not make this decision easily by any means – I’m going to make Todd Downing the play caller for the New York Jets going forward,’ Ulbrich announced. ‘And this is more a byproduct of a different take on things – I’m not saying it’s a better or worse take on things by any means – but just a different take on things, a fresh approach.
‘Ultimately Todd will have the full say on the game plan and, ultimately, the plays that are called within the game.’
Downing has 22 years of NFL coaching experience, including stints as offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2017) and Tennessee Titans (2021-22).
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Ulbrich had said shortly after replacing Saleh that he had no plans to alter the coaching staff from a manpower perspective but granted that job responsibilities could change.
Hackett’s offense in New York has been widely maligned with and without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps due to an Achilles injury in 2023, over the past 22 games – often appearing stagnant and certainly failing to produce the desired results. It finished 31st among the league’s 32 teams last season.
Through five weeks this year, the Jets (2-3) rank 25th league-wide in scoring and 27th in total offense, i.e. yards gained. They’re dead last in rushing, averaging 80.4 yards per game despite the presence of talented backs Breece Hall and rookie Braelon Allen.
Ulbrich, an experienced defensive assistant and coordinator who played linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-09, will also offer input into the stagnant attack, saying he planned to ‘find those places to infuse my personality into that side of the ball from a strategic or from a schematic standpoint.’
The Jets have been overly reliant on the arm of Rodgers, 40, who’s taken a lot of physical punishment during the club’s current two-game losing streak. He threw 54 times, fifth most of his decorated 20-year career, in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in London. He was also intercepted three times.
Rodgers, long a friend and defender of Hackett – he was the Green Bay Packers OC when the QB was league MVP in 2020 and ’21 – said Wednesday during an interview on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ that he would be supportive of any changes Ulbrich chose to make.
‘There was going to be some things that needed to change regardless of what happened to Robert. We just haven’t been playing consistent football on offense. As we know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,’ said Rodgers.
‘I’m on board with whatever he decides as far as the offense goes. I want to do what’s best for the team. We’re throwing our support behind Coach Ulbrich and whatever he believes is best for the team, we’re going to go with.”
The Jets host the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
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