Over the past month, the NFL coaching carousel has quietly become a reunion tour for several familiar faces from the New York Jets’ past. From a former head coach landing a second shot at the big chair to an oft-criticized play-caller resurfacing in the division, Jets fans will be seeing some old names in new places-and in some cases, twice a year.
Nathaniel Hackett Heads to Miami
Let’s start with Nathaniel Hackett. After a rocky stint as the Jets’ offensive coordinator that ended with his play-calling duties being stripped midway through the 2024 season, Hackett spent 2025 working behind the scenes as a defensive analyst in Green Bay. Now, he’s back in the AFC East-this time with the Miami Dolphins.
Hackett has been hired as the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach under new head coach Jeff Hafley, who was previously the Packers’ defensive coordinator. The two worked together last season in Green Bay, and now they’ll try to bring that synergy to South Beach.
What’s unclear is who Hackett will be mentoring under center. Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami is cloudy at best after a disappointing season, and trade rumors have been swirling. Whether it’s Tua or a new face, Hackett will be tasked with developing a quarterback in a division where the Jets will now have to face him twice a year.
Robert Saleh Gets a Second Shot
Of all the former Jets coaches making moves this offseason, none has landed a bigger opportunity than Robert Saleh. After compiling a 20-36 record in New York, Saleh’s stock rebounded in a big way during his one-year stint as San Francisco’s defensive coordinator. That bounce-back has now earned him another head coaching job-this time with the Tennessee Titans.
Tennessee is betting that Saleh can be the one to lead their rebuild, particularly when it comes to developing their young quarterback, former No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. And this time, Saleh won’t be going it alone on offense. He’s bringing in former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator-a significant move that could finally give Saleh the offensive firepower he never had in New York.
The Titans clearly see something in Saleh that reminds them of Mike Vrabel, the coach they parted ways with not long ago. Whether Saleh can replicate Vrabel’s success-or surpass it-will hinge on how quickly he and Daboll can get Ward up to speed and turn the offense into a strength rather than a liability.
Mike LaFleur in the Mix for Arizona
Another name from the Jets’ offensive past is gaining traction on the coaching circuit: Mike LaFleur. Before Hackett arrived in 2023, LaFleur was the man in charge of the Jets’ offense. His tenure was marred by the struggles of Zach Wilson, and after two underwhelming seasons, the Jets moved on.
But Sean McVay didn’t hesitate to bring LaFleur aboard as the Rams’ offensive coordinator-and that move has paid off. Now, LaFleur is being considered a top candidate for the head coaching job in Arizona. His work under McVay has earned him plenty of respect around the league, and the Cardinals appear to be seriously weighing him as their next leader.
If LaFleur does land the job in Arizona, it’ll spark an inevitable question among Jets fans: Was the problem really the offensive coordinator back then, or was it the quarterback all along?
Jets Connections Across the League
It’s not unusual to see coaches get second chances or find new life in different systems. What’s striking here is how many former Jets staffers are now in prominent positions across the league-and how many of them are being trusted with the very responsibilities they struggled with in New York.
Hackett is back coaching quarterbacks. Saleh is once again leading a franchise rebuild.
LaFleur could soon be running his own team. For Jets fans, it’s a strange twist of fate.
These are names that once drew criticism in the Meadowlands, now being handed the keys to major roles elsewhere.
Time will tell whether these moves pay off. But one thing’s for sure: the Jets’ coaching tree is growing-and some of its branches are circling right back into the AFC East.