New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is getting tired of all of the criticism concerning offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Rodgers was asked why Jets fans should trust Hackett during an appearance on Mad Dog Radio, and he made it pretty clear that Hackett is just fine.
“You should trust me. And I trust Nathaniel. So, to me, that's end of story,” Rodgers said.
Rodgers went on to say that he thinks Hackett has done a tremendous job of handling the adversity that has come his way recently.
“There’s been a lot of BS that’s been said out there,” said Rodgers. “There’s a lot of things that have gone on the last couple years that he’s dealt with that I think he’s handled very professionally. And at the end of the day, I think you've got to trust his and my working relationship and the conversations that we have. You've got to trust the staff.”
The Jets brought in Hackett as their new offensive coordinator last year in conjunction with trading for Rodgers.
Hackett served as Rodgers' coordinator with the Green Bay Packers for three years between 2019 and 2021, so Rodgers has plenty of familiarity with him.
Aaron Rodgers is on a mission with the Jets
Many have lambasted Hackett for the way the Jets' offense performed last season. The thing is, Rodgers ended up tearing his Achilles on the first offensive series of the season, forcing Zach Wilson into the starting quarterback role.
So, was New York's miserable offense in 2023 a result of bad play-calling on Hackett's part? Or was it due to poor quarterback play?
We should probably give Hackett the benefit of the doubt and say it's the latter.
Now, Rodgers is healthy, and he seems laser-focused heading into next season. The Jets have done a terrific job of surrounding him with more talent this offseason, bringing in wide receivers like Mike Williams and Malachi Corley and repairing what was a horrendous offensive line.
Obviously, health is the biggest question mark for New York in 2024. Will Rodgers remain healthy? And will he look anything like his former self? Not only that, but Williams is coming off of a torn ACL, and he is expected to be one of Rodgers' top two weapons alongside of Garrett Wilson.
On paper, there is no question that the Jets are one of the most talented teams in football. But the game is not played on paper.
The good news for New York is that it is playing in a very winnable AFC East division. The Buffalo Bills have won it four years in a row, but they have been significantly weakened with all of their departures the last couple of months.
Plus, Rodgers obviously understands what is at stake and is embracing the pressure that comes with it. Rodgers typically plays very well when his back is against the wall, so we may end up seeing the very best of the future Hall-of-Famer next season.
We'll see if Rodgers and the Jets can erase the stench of 2023 come September.
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