In an exciting development, Nathaniel Hackett is reuniting with the LaFleur family, but this time in a different location—Arizona. This news comes as Hackett joins forces with Mike LaFleur, Matt LaFleur’s brother, who is stepping into his inaugural head coaching role with the Arizona Cardinals. The NFL Network was the first to break this story.
Interestingly, Hackett was initially slated to take on the role of quarterbacks coach for the Miami Dolphins, working under Jeff Hafley, who previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Packers. However, with Mike LaFleur's recent hiring as head coach of the Cardinals, Hackett made a swift transition to accept this more prominent position within a familiar family dynamic.
Hackett first joined the Green Bay Packers as their offensive coordinator when Matt LaFleur was appointed head coach in 2019. Under their collaboration, the Packers flourished, achieving impressive offensive rankings; they claimed the No. 5 offensive rank and were the highest-scoring team in 2020. The following year saw them finish 10th in total offense and scoring. Notably, quarterback Aaron Rodgers praised Hackett's contributions, leading him to secure his third and fourth MVP awards during that successful stretch.
This success paved the way for Hackett to catch the attention of teams seeking head coaches, and he was subsequently hired by the Denver Broncos in 2022. Alongside him came notable quarterback Russell Wilson, but the partnership didn’t yield the expected results. Hackett's tenure as head coach lasted only 15 games, culminating in his dismissal after a dismal 4-11 season where the Broncos ranked as the lowest-scoring offense in the league.
Later, Hackett had another chance to showcase his offensive skills with the New York Jets, reuniting with Rodgers after the quarterback's trade. Unfortunately, this chapter turned into a nightmare as well; Rodgers suffered a serious injury during the season opener, and Hackett struggled to find stability with multiple quarterbacks, leading the Jets to finish 30th in offensive rankings.
Despite these setbacks, Hackett found himself back in Green Bay in 2024, serving as a defensive analyst. Now, he is set to embark on a new journey in Arizona, where he will be working closely with Mike LaFleur. However, it's worth noting that he will be stepping into a challenging situation; there are significant uncertainties surrounding Kyler Murray's future as the Cardinals' starting quarterback.
With this latest move, Hackett will be taking on the role of offensive coordinator for the fifth time in his career. What do you think about Hackett’s ability to turn around the Cardinals' offense? Can he overcome the challenges presented by Murray's uncertain status? Share your thoughts!
