The New York Jets are making another critical change to their coaching coach staff before their game on Monday night against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6.
On Tuesday, Jets’ owner Woody Johnson took the drastic step of firing head coach Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start to the season.
Johnson hoped the coaching change would light a fire in the locker room before the team played the Bills for a chance to take a lead in the AFC East.
The Jets appointed defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Ulbrich has already made a critical decision for the team before his first game as the head coach. During his Thursday morning press conference, Ulbrich said Todd Downing would take over the play-calling duties on offense from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
“This is more a byproduct of a different take on things,” Ulbrich said. “I’m not saying it’s a better or worse take on things by any means. It’s just a different take on things–a fresh approach.”
Ulbrich said Downing would have full control of the game plan in addition to the play-calling duties. Downing was hired as the Jets quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator before the season.
Downing has been coaching in the league since 2005. At 44, he has experience being an offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans.
As of this publishing, Hackett is still on the Jets coaching staff as the offensive coordinator, but without the duties of creating the game plan or calling the plays.
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