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New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich officially announced passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Todd Downing as the new offensive play-caller, a move reportedly made by former head coach Robert Saleh minutes before his own firing.
Ulbrich addressed reporters on Thursday (October 10) and confirmed the decision, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported. Saleh also reportedly decided to hand offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett's play-calling duties over to Downing minutes before his own firing, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to SNY's Connor Hughes.
"SOURCES: Former #Jets HC Robert Saleh was never going to fire offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. That was not happening. However he was going to demote his game day responsibilities this week. Saleh made decision to give play-calling to Todd Downing because of the continued issues on offense. He made that final decision Tuesday AM. Then, roughly five minutes later, he was called into Woody Johnson's office and fired," Hughes wrote on his X account Tuesday afternoon.
Johnson publicly confirmed reports of Saleh's termination in an official statement shared Tuesday morning, which also announced his decision to promote Ubrich to interim head coach.
"Based off of Jeff Ulbrich's press conference, it sounds very much like he, too, is considering giving play calling to Downing. The Jets expressed concern with Hackett this offseason in their attempts to add Arthur Smith as a senior advisor. He would have been the lead offensive voice, however he took the #Steelers OC job instead," Hughes added.
Saleh went 20-36 during his tenure as the Jets' head coach, which includes a 2-3 start to the 2024 season. New York finished last in the AFC East during Saleh's first two seasons and third in 2023, having entered with high expectations following the acquisition of four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury on the team's opening drive.
Rodgers has played in all five of the Jets' games in 2024, but struggled in losses to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday (October 6) and Denver Broncos in Week 4. Hackett, who Rodgers publicly defended from scrutiny after a failed one-year head coaching tenure with the Denver Broncos, had previously worked as the quarterback's offensive coordinator during their shared tenure with the Green Bay Packers.