There was a familiar face at Ray Nitschke Field for the start of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp on July 23.
It was former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
He has returned to be part of the Packers’ coaching staff. But not in a role with the offensive coaches and more in an informal role.
He’ll be a consultant for the Packers’ defensive staff, where he will bring an offensive perspective to this side, according to PackersNews’ Pete Dougherty.
The Packers haven’t announced Hackett’s hire and he’s not listed on the team’s website within the coaching staff.
It appears to be similar to a role that Robert Saleh had for a few weeks last season after being fired as the New York Jets’ head coach. However, Saleh, a defensive-minded coach, was brought in to help on the offensive side.
Saleh is now the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator.
Hackett returns to the Packers after spending the last two seasons with the Jets.
He was the Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019 through 2021. Green Bay had the top-scoring offense in 2020 and the 10th-ranked offense in 2021, and Aaron Rodgers won MVP honors both of those seasons.
After years as a coordinator or position coach, Hackett was suddenly a hot commodity. He landed the Denver Broncos’ head coaching job in 2022. But he was out of the job after 15 games with Denver at 4-11 and having the worst-scoring offense in the NFL.
Hackett, however, quickly found a new opportunity with the Jets as he reunited with Rodgers, whom he was close with during his three years in Green Bay. Rodgers previously said Hackett was “arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL.”
But it never worked out for Hackett with the Jets, whether Rodgers was under center or not. After Saleh was fired midway through the 2024 season, his role as the team’s top playcaller was reduced. Ultimately, with the Jets in an organizational and coaching rehaul, he was out of a job this offseason.
Now, Hackett is looking to revive his career in a place where he had his most success.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is back in Green Bay. What role will he have?
Reporting by Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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