Panthers appoint Reich as Jets fuel Rodgers speculation with Hackett hire | NFL

The New York Jets have their new offensive play caller, whereas the Carolina Panthers have employed a brand new head coach.

Former Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett was employed Thursday because the Jets’ offensive coordinator to exchange Mike LaFleur after head coach Robert Saleh interviewed greater than 15 candidates for the emptiness over the last two weeks.

“When it got here again to a sure guidelines that I used to be making an attempt to undergo,” Saleh mentioned throughout a video name, “simply checking packing containers with regard to what we have been in search of from this subsequent offensive coordinator, we simply saved circling again to him. He checks each field that we’re in search of.”

Elsewhere on Thursday, the Carolina Panthers introduced Frank Reich as their new head coach. The previous Colts head coach was chosen from a shortlist that included Steve Wilks, who had a 6-6 with the Panthers after Matt Rhule was fired in October, and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Wilks was common with the Carolina gamers however Panthers proprietor David Tepper wanted a coach who could improve the team’s offense. Wilks is seen as a defensive specialist. Carolina have struggled to discover a dependable beginning quarterback since Cam Newton suffered a shoulder harm in 2018. Since their first season within the NFL in 1995, the Panthers have completed within the high 10 in offense simply 3 times.

Reich has historical past with the Panthers: he was their first beginning quarterback of their debut season.

Wilks is at the moment involved in a lawsuit with the NFL that alleges the league discriminates in opposition to Black coaches. After information of Reich’s appointment broke, Wigdor LLP, a regulation agency representing Wilks within the lawsuit issued a press release.

“We’re shocked and disturbed that the unbelievable job Coach Wilks did because the interim coach, together with bringing the group again into playoff competition and garnering the assist of gamers and followers, that he was handed over for the top xoach place by David Tepper,” the assertion mentioned. “There’s a respectable race drawback within the NFL and we will guarantee you that we are going to have extra to say within the coming days.’’

In the meantime, the hiring of the 43-year-old Hackett fuels hypothesis about whether or not the Jets may pursue Inexperienced Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose enjoying future is unsure. Hackett and Rodgers have a connection: Hackett served because the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019-21 with Rodgers when the quarterback gained two consecutive NFL MVPs.

Rodgers mentioned not too long ago throughout his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show that he believes he can nonetheless play at an MVP-type stage in the appropriate scenario. However the four-time MVP hasn’t determined whether or not to return to the Packers, retire or request a commerce.

Saleh mentioned through the interview course of that he and Hackett didn’t focus on particular quarterbacks. The Jets coach had mentioned he was in search of an skilled play caller to exchange LaFleur, who was a first-time offensive coordinator.

“Everyone’s bought a connection to all people on this league,” Saleh mentioned. “Crucial factor was discovering a man who may proceed growing our younger guys at a really excessive stage, a man who has carried out it earlier than and a man who’s had success on this league with quite a lot of totally different quarterbacks.”

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, who has helped lead three top-10 scoring offenses as a coordinator, changed Vic Fangio final January. However he wasn’t capable of construct an offense that suited veteran Russell Wilson with the Broncos.

“You’ve bought to have the self-discipline to look previous recency bias,” Saleh mentioned. “The very fact of the matter is he bought to Denver and he had that chance due to his life’s work as an offensive coordinator and all of the various things he’s carried out on this league and the way a lot respect he has garnered all through the league.”

Saleh highlighted Hackett’s work in a West Coast scheme, which the Jets ran beneath LaFleur, together with a confirmed observe report of growing a powerful run recreation and the success he has had with numerous quarterbacks.

With the Jets, Hackett involves a group that struggled mightily on offense in LaFleur’s two seasons and is going through a serious query at quarterback. Zach Wilson has not lived as much as expectations after being chosen second general within the 2021 draft. Mike White and Joe Flacco, who each began at instances in Wilson’s place, are set to turn into free brokers.

Jets proprietor Woody Johnson mentioned after the season, throughout which New York completed 7-10 and on a six-game shedding streak, that he would “completely” be on board with buying a veteran quarterback within the offseason. Saleh confirmed the Jets are “dedicated” to discovering a veteran this offseason – but additionally need to proceed to develop Wilson.

Hackett and Saleh first labored collectively in Jacksonville from 2015-16 when Hackett was the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach and Saleh the linebackers coach. Hackett took over as Jacksonville’s interim offensive coordinator in 2016 earlier than being employed for the place the next season, and he helped lead Blake Bortles and the Jaguars to the AFC title recreation that season.

He was fired in the course of the following season after Jacksonville’s offense struggled badly, however Hackett was employed by Inexperienced Bay coach Matt LaFleur – Mike’s older brother – in 2019. With Hackett in place and LaFleur calling performs, Rodgers and the Packers have been the NFL’s top-scoring offense through the 2020 season, when Inexperienced Bay went to the NFC championship recreation.

“He’s bought a laundry listing of stuff that we’re all actually, actually enthusiastic about,” Saleh mentioned of Hackett, who additionally served as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator from 2013-14.

Saleh added the Jets nonetheless need to add a senior offensive assistant/adviser as a result of he preferred the construction the group had when the late Greg Knapp was on employees earlier than the 2021 season.

The Jets additionally introduced that Keith Carter was employed because the group’s offensive line coach/run recreation coordinator, changing the fired John Benton.

Carter was Tennessee’s O-line coach the final 5 seasons. The Derrick Henry-led Titans had three top-five speeding finishes in Carter’s final 4 seasons with the group. Saleh mentioned he was “shocked” Carter was fired by the Titans two weeks in the past.

“Looks like we hit a house run,” Saleh mentioned of Carter’s hiring.