The Green Bay Packers returned an old friend to the coaching staff to open training camp in 2025. According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, Nathaniel Hackett is back with the Packers in an advisory role, similar to the way coach Matt LaFleur used Robert Saleh last season.
Hackett was the offensive coordinator for LaFleur between the 2019 and 2021 seasons. He left to become the Denver Broncos head coach in 2022 and then spent the last two seasons as the New York Jets offensive coordinator.
Per Schneidman, the Packers will use Hackett to advise the defense from the offense’s point of view. Last year, Saleh — a long-time defensive coach — helped advise the Packers offense.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers won back-to-back NFL MVPs with Hackett as the offensive coordinator, although LaFleur called plays. Among Hackett’s responsibilities was crafting the red zone offense. In 2020, the Packers led the NFL in scoring and had a historic performance converting red-zone trips into touchdowns.
Hackett lasted only 15 games as the Broncos head coach after a 4-11 start. Hackett then replaced Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother, as Jets offensive coordinator in 2023. But he was stripped of playcalling duties early in the 2024 season after the Jets season unraveled and Saleh was fired.
Completing the circle, Hackett is now back in Green Bay to help Jeff Hafley and the Packers.
LaFleur also returned former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who is now a senior assistant for the Packers after spending time as a consultant last season.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Nathaniel Hackett returns to Packers in advisory role for defense
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
