It’s telling how Saleh seemingly wanted to hire an entirely new offensive coordinator but didn’t simply fire Hackett outright. Russini wrote Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers “was involved in the process to add a new coach” yet “wasn’t going to boot Hackett.”

New York painted itself into a serious corner.

Demoting Hackett then raised the natural follow-up question of what purpose the offensive coordinator is serving if you no longer trust him as the lead play-caller.

Russini pointed to another lingering issue when she wrote that giving passing game coordinator Todd Downing the play sheet “won’t ultimately change much about the Jets’ offensive process.” The play-calling still runs through Rodgers, who’s expected to continue basically exercising his right to modify any call he doesn’t like at the line of scrimmage.

Saleh isn’t totally blameless for the Jets’ disappointing 2023 season or their underwhelming start this year. However, Russini’s report reinforces how he was working with one hand tied behind his back from the moment the Jets decided to tie their fate to Rodgers.