The New York Jets made a surprising move on Tuesday when they fired head coach Robert Saleh, sparking speculation that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is getting his way.
Surprisingly, the Jets are not firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett despite their offense ranking sixth-worst in yards per game (286.6) and eighth-worst in points per game (18.6) this season.
Hackett served as the Denver Broncos head coach in 2022 before being fired with two games remaining that season. He went 4-11 with the Broncos.
Fans and pundits in Denver were surprised by New York’s decision to give Saleh the boot and stick with Hackett. Here’s a sampling of how Broncos Country reacted to the news on Twitter/X on Tuesday.
Remember when people got mad about this? https://t.co/vKTT8JuCH9
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 8, 2024
Sean Payton has never told a lie https://t.co/mhFamJR0bc pic.twitter.com/7xF58UKVWv
— Michael 🇲🇽 (@RespectMyCos) October 8, 2024
https://t.co/lslznZbqnd pic.twitter.com/vLOstnBvCC
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) October 8, 2024
What the hell does firing Robert Saleh mid year do if Nathaniel Hacket is still calling plays? They know the issue is on offense, right?
— Joey Richards (@LTB_Joey) October 8, 2024
They fired the wrong guy https://t.co/CWVT5RXzwT
— Nate Jackson (@NathanSerious) October 8, 2024
Who's really in charge with the Jets … pic.twitter.com/vLuUo3rkFI
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) October 8, 2024
Trevor Siemian only Jets QB with a winning record under Saleh. Way to go, Trevor. Beat the odds. pic.twitter.com/Se8ww3Rvxo
— Total Fandomonium (@TotalFandom) October 8, 2024
New Jets coaching staff
Head coach: RFK
OC: Aaron Rodgers
DC: Alex Jones
Strength+Conditioning: Joe Rogan
O Line Coach: Kyle Rittenhouse
Director of Comm: Elon Musk
Head of PR: Tucker Carlson
Scouts: Ben Shapiro, Tomi Lahren, Candace Owens— KFC (@KFCBarstool) October 8, 2024
The next coach of the New York Jets: pic.twitter.com/Z9HR02HsYR
— Football (@BostonConnr) October 8, 2024
Very Jets to fire their defensive minded head coach that had their defense playing well but keeping their OC who has not been good the past year and a half he has been there. pic.twitter.com/kDLFr4h1p0
— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) October 8, 2024
https://t.co/i0iGB3yukW pic.twitter.com/J0RSefOl0t
— Ian St. Clair (@IanStClair) October 8, 2024
Well, we won’t have to worry about the Jets any time soon https://t.co/l4mI6tv77v
— 🄱🄾🄶🄶🄸🄽🅂 (@Mr_Boggins) October 8, 2024
just not a serious owner. still got michael scott running the offense dont see how this changes anything https://t.co/BBpR6Mk85Y
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) October 8, 2024
— Sayre Bedinger (@SayreBedinger) October 8, 2024
Nathaniel Hackett watching Saleh get canned while he continues to “run” one of the worst offenses in football pic.twitter.com/5vppIuuA0C
— Daniel Harms🏈 (@InHarmsWay19) October 8, 2024
Nathaniel Hackett when he heard that Robert Saleh was fired, but he was somehow retained as Offensive Coordinator pic.twitter.com/A9FkwbperT
— TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) October 8, 2024
If Vance Joseph ends up getting a head coaching job 👀👀👀 https://t.co/1vbbBZnxGg
— Lindsay Bebout (@lindsaybebout) October 8, 2024
Broncos could do a lot worse if they lose Vance Joseph to a head coaching gig in 2025. https://t.co/0yGjrtspaZ
— Joe Rowles (@JoRo_NFL) October 8, 2024
I would think the Saleh news bodes well for Broncos fans who don’t want to see Denver claim the active record for “longest playoff drought”
— Zach Segars (@Zach_Segars) October 8, 2024
The Jets are going to find out quickly that firing Saleh isn’t going to fix their problems.
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) October 8, 2024
Saleh, 45, will likely become a top defensive coordinator candidate. That could become notable in Denver if Vance Joseph leaves for a head coach job in 2025, but the Broncos do have a strong in-house candidate in Jim Leonhard. For now, Joseph remains the DC in Denver and Saleh is a coaching free agent. And Hackett, somehow, remains the Jets’ OC.
