An overwhelming majority of the New York Jets‘ coaching staff has been in place for at least two seasons. However, Gang Green made several changes over the past several months — nearly all on the offensive side of the ball — which could impact the Jets’ fortunes in 2023.
New York Jets Coaching Staff
- Robert Saleh, Head Coach
- Nathaniel Hackett, Offensive Coordinator
- Todd Downing, Passing Game Coordinator
- Keith Carter, OL Coach/Run Game Coordinator
- Rob Calabrese, QB Coach
- Taylor Embree, RB Coach
- Zach Azzanni, WR Coach
- Ron Middleton, TE Coach
- Ben Wilkerson, Assistant OL Coach
- Dan Shamash, Situational Football and Game Management Coordinator
- Pat Bastien, Offensive Assistant
- Mack Brown, Offensive Assistant
- Junior Taylor, Offensive Assistant
- Billy Vandemerkt, Offensive Assistant
- Jeff Ulbrich, Defensive Coordinator
- Aaron Whitecotton, DL Coach
- Mike Rutenberg, LB Coach
- Marquand Manuel, Defensive Backs Coach/Safeties
- Tony Oden, Senior Defensive Assistant/Cornerbacks
- Shaq Wilson, Assistant DL Coach
- Ricky Manning Jr., Defensive Assistant
- Nathaniel Willingham, Defensive Assistant
- Brant Boyer, Special Teams Coordinator
- Michael Ghobrial, Special Teams Assistant
- Leon Washington, Special Teams Assistant
New Changes to the Jets Coaching Staff in 2023
While Nathaniel Hackett appeared underqualified to serve as the Denver Broncos’ head coach in 2022, his addition to the Jets’ staff apparently helped them land Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback worked with Hackett in Green Bay and said New York’s new offensive coordinator was a “big reason” why he chose to head to the Jets.
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Hackett is replacing Mike LaFleur, who struggled to get New York’s offense going over two years as a play-caller but didn’t have much of a chance with Zach Wilson under center. It’s hard to see Hackett receiving head-coaching interest anytime soon after last year’s debacle in Denver, but he has the pieces in place to run a productive Jets offense next season.
Hackett will be aided by Todd Downing, whom the Tennessee Titans fired following the 2022 campaign after he was arrested for DUI in November. Downing, who has worked in the NFL since 2001, was a coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2017) and Titans (2021-22).
Downing isn’t the only former Titans coach on the Jets’ 2023 staff. Keith Carter, who served as Tennessee’s offensive line coach from 2018-22, will hold the same role with New York while adding a run game coordinator role. Carter has also worked for the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks and boasts a wealth of collegiate experience.
Elsewhere on offense, Zach Azzanni will replace Miles Austin as the Jets’ wide receivers coach. Austin wasn’t technically fired, but he was suspended in December for at least one year after violating the NFL’s gambling policy. Azzanni has also been a WRs coach for the Chicago Bears (2017) and Denver Broncos (2018-22).
The Jets only have one new face on the defensive side of the ball: assistant defensive line coach Shaq Wilson, who will work under holdover DL coach Aaron Whitecotton. Wilson, who’s coached at both Tennessee and South Carolina, most recently worked as a defensive analyst for the Gamecocks.