Todd Downing will serve as the Jets' offensive play-caller

Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich has decided to change things up on offense.

Ulbrich announced in his press conference Thursday that passing game coordinator Todd Downing will take over offensive game management from coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. But Hackett will remain with the team.

“After thinking about it for a long time – and this decision was by no means easy for me – I will make it Todd Downing is the future play-caller for the New York Jetssaid Ulbrich. “And that’s more of a byproduct of looking at things differently. I'm in no way saying it's a better or worse way to look at things. Just a different look at things, a new approach. Ultimately, Todd has full say over the game plan and ultimately the plays that are called in the game.

“It remains that way, just another testament to the man that Nathaniel Hackett is – the fact that he will give everything in his body, his heart and his soul and will be a big part of the success that we have.” We will have to move forward from an offensive perspective. And I just feel so lucky that he's staying with us. I mean, here's a guy who's been a head coach in this league and is willing to draw cards, willing to do whatever it takes – and has the true heart of a servant. I just feel so lucky to have him on our staff, to be in our lies, and I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Hackett was hired last year after being fired with two games left in his first season as the Broncos' head coach. New York currently ranks 25th in points scored and 27th in total yards. The club is No. 32 in rushing after gaining just 402 yards on the ground.

Downing was the Titans' offensive coordinator from 2021 to 2022 and Ulbrich said Downing's offenses made an impact.

“I always had a lot of respect for Todd,” Ulbrich said. “Schematically speaking, I always look at a guy like that as – that’s a little piece of the puzzle for me. It's really the style of play of this group – what do they embody? What do the casual fans watching the game have to say about this offense?

“And against every Tennessee offense I ever faced when Todd was the play-caller there, they were tough. They were ruthless. They were finished. They ran the ball. They played on their terms. And there’s definitely a style that spoke to me in that way.”

Ulbrich also stated that he would continue to serve as the team's defensive coordinator and oversee the defensive players as an interim coach.