The Arizona Cardinals have come together nicely with their coaching staff. Newly-minted head coach Mike LaFleur was behind when he was hired as Arizona’s head man.
There were 10 NFL clubs this year that fired their head coaches. The Cardinals were the second-to-last team to fill their head coaching position. That meant eight other teams were able to cherry-pick for assistant coaches.
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But somehow, LaFleur got most of the men he wanted and saw others he wished he had been able to hire find meaningful employment with other clubs before he got the Cardinals job.
LaFleur was appointed to accomplish one thing: Re-invent the offense. Make no mistake about it, there was one hire that LaFleur had to have, even though he is an offensive-minded coach who came from a sensational coaching tree.
That hire was when he brought in Nathaniel Hackett away from his brother Matt’s team, the Green Bay Packers. Hackett is Arizona’s new OC. With Green Bay, he was the defensive analyst. He has been the OC with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Packers, and Syracuse.
LaFleur is making it known that Hackett is his brightest star:
“He’s very [highly] thought of, particularly, within our profession. And you guys believe one thing from this press conference; it is literally I wanted him and nobody else — and he’s here.”
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Hackett was the Packers’ OC under Matt LaFleur from 2019 to 2021. During those years, Green Bay’s offense was ranked: #15 (2019), #1 (2020), and #10 (2021).
In the 2020 season, the Packers had 6,224 total yards on offense with 358 first down conversions and scored 509 points (31.8 points per game average).
Hackett divulged that his hiring by LaFleur was an important aspect in leading the Cardinals’ offense:
“I’ve known Mike for a long time, and he’s, first and foremost, a great person, and I think that this game is all about relationships. It’s about how you work with people, how you communicate with people. And to be able to work with him is very exciting for me. And just the fact that all of our conversations for the past years have been awesome.”
What is odd is that when Matt LaFleur was hired as head coach of the Packers, Hackett was hired as his first OC. When brother Mike LaFleur was hired as head coach of the Cardinals, his first OC was also Hackett.
Although LaFleur has been in the NFL and worked for eight clubs, despite being the same age, Hackett has been an offensive coordinator for a few more years than LaFleur. This means as LaFleur is making his way and grooming the offense, he has talent already in the offensive room at the ready for advice with a bevy of experience.
“He talked a little bit about the philosophies and all that, and it goes even deeper when it comes to the family and how he is with his. And that means a lot to me, and so I’m very honored to be here.”
Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and QB Aaron Rodgers
What Hackett means by “to the family” is the fact that he has worked with both brothers. He mentioned that there are similarities, but at the same time, “there are definitely some differences.”
Hackett has experience with play calling, but LaFleur has stated that he will be Arizona’s play caller going forward. It is a job that he has had in the past, and he has stated he really enjoys that aspect of coaching.
As far as Hackett, LaFleur said that Hackett’s role will be:
“Setting the table, setting the menu, having just great energy around the building, having great communication when I’m doing stuff with the defense.”
Basically, his eyes focused on the offense while LaFleur is off doing head coaching stuff.