Packers hire Nathaniel Hackett as Offensive coordinator

New Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has made his first big hire.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Packers are hiring former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett to the same job in Green Bay, giving LaFleur his top offensive assistant on the staff.

Hackett, 39, has been an offensive coordinator for the Jaguars (2016-18) and Buffalo Bills (2013-14) in the NFL. He was also the offensive coordinator at Syracuse (2011-12).

Jaguars coach Doug Marrone promoted Hackett to offensive coordinator before the 2016 season. He served in the role until Marrone fired him in late November of this past season.

The Jaguars ranked fifth in points scored, sixth in yards gained and first in rushing yards during the 2017 season, but quarterback Blake Bortles struggled and running back Leonard Fournette played in only eight games in 2018, helping lead to Hackett’s dismissal.

In Green Bay, Hackett won’t call the plays. That’ll be LaFleur’s job.

Hackett is the son of Paul Hackett, a long-time NFL assistant coach who learned the West Coast offense under Bill Walsh in San Francisco and worked with Mike McCarthy in Kansas City during the 1990s.

The Packers are clearly comfortable putting 35-year-old Aaron Rodgers into the hands of two young coaches. LaFleur and Hackett are both 39 years old.

LaFleur and the Packers now have their coordinators for each side of the ball: Hackett on offense, and Mike Pettine on defense.

Packers defensive run-game coordinator/linebackers coach Patrick Graham also might not return. A source said the Packers will allow him to join Flores' staff in Miami, potentially as the defensive coordinator.

Meanwhile, former Green Bay offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who served as the interim head coach for the final four games this past season, has interviewed with at least three teams -- the Bills, Browns and Minnesota Vikings -- according to multiple league sources.