Packers hire Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator

The Green Bay Packers have found their offensive coordinator.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Packers are hiring Nathaniel Hackett to be the team’s new OC. Hackett is the son of Paul Hackett who is a former NFL offensive coordinator. He will work with Matt LaFleur who was hired as the Packers head coach on Jan. 8. 

Nathaniel Hackett spent the last three seasons as the Jaguars OC. In 2018, the Jaguars finished with a 5-11 record and Hackett was fired due to the struggles on offense. The team finished 27th in the NFL in total yards and 31st in points scored per game. 2017 was a big year for Hackett and the Jaguars offense, finishing sixth in yards and fifth in points which led to them playing in the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots.

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Hackett also was the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator from 2013-2014. In 2013, the Bills finished 19th in yards and 22nd in scoring. In 2014, the Bills finished 26th in points and 18th in scoring. 

No matter who the offensive coordinator is, LaFleur made it clear he will be calling plays once the team hits the field later this year. 

“I absolutely intend on calling the plays and certainly there are challenges in regards to that, certainly when you’re making adjustments when the defense is out there,” LaFleur said. “That’s why it’s so important to me to hire quality people around me because I’m going to need guys in those spots so that I can attend to whatever it is we’re doing on offense.”

Before being named the head coach of the Packers, LaFleur was the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and the Tennessee Titans in 2018. LaFleur did not call plays when he was with the Rams, but he got the opportunity to do it against the Titans and the team finished 25th in total offense as well as 29th in passing offense. 

Keep in mind that Titans QB Marcus Mariota was never healthy because he was dealing with neck and elbow while TE Delanie Walker missed the entire season with an injured ankle. Along with OL Jack Conklin missing seven games and the Titans having one of the 10 hardest schedules in the NFL, the LaFleur’s first season as a play-caller was not a failure, especially with the team finished the year seventh in the NFL in rushing offense. 

Other candidates that were reportedly being considered are Mike McDaniel and Mike LaFleur (Matt LaFleur’s brother). Both coaches are currently assistants on the San Francisco 49ers coaching staff. The Packers also interviewed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken for the position but he decided to take the same role with the Cleveland Browns. With the hire, LaFleur has his offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator set for the 2019 season as the team decided to keep Mike Pettine on the coaching staff.