The Chicago Bears have worked tirelessly for many years trying to catch up to the Green Bay Packers. A big reason why their longtime rivals remain ahead of them is the presence of two all-time great quarterbacks. However, one should not discount their consistent ability to find quality coaching as well. Matt Lafleur is just the latest example. As his offense continues to find success despite a myriad of injuries this year, eyes have begun to turn towards his right-hand man. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Though he isn’t the play caller, the 41-year old is widely beloved by his colleagues and players. He has a reputation for being a great leader, able to connect with anybody regardless of background. Perhaps what has stood out the most about him so far in his coaching career is his adaptability. This became apparent during his first stint as a coordinator in college at Syracuse. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated explained.
“He was fearless despite being a first-time play-caller. Once, after a miserable off-location practice at the Fort Drum military base, Hackett decided the offense was getting whooped in practice. So, two weeks before the season, he called a meeting, scrapped the entire playbook and installed a Jim Kelly–era Bills K-Gun offense. Ryan Nassib, the quarterback at the time, set school records for completions and yards, and tied the school record for touchdowns in a season.”
Think about that.
Hackett sensed the offensive scheme wasn’t working. So rather than persist in hopes it would improve, he completely redesigned everything to better fit the players he had. Something Matt Nagy has steadfastly refused to do since he arrived in 2018. Prior to his promotion in 2011, Syracuse was 93rd in total offense. They improved to 84th his first year and then jumped to 56th by 2012. When Orange head coach Doug Marrone was grabbed by the Buffalo Bills as their new head coach the next year, he made sure to bring Hackett with him.
One thing that has become apparent with the man since his arrival in the NFL? He can make the best of a bad situation at quarterback. During his two-year stint in Buffalo, Hackett had E.J. Manuel and Kyle Orton as his two starters of choice. Hardly ideal. Yet the Bills still managed to finish 22nd and 18th in scoring those two seasons. A better average than Nagy.
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Nathaniel Hackett further proved this a few years later
Marrone left Buffalo after his second season but quickly landed on his feet in Jacksonville. His arrival in 2015 saw immediate results. Quarterback Blake Bortles had a rough rookie season the year prior. That second year saw him throw for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns. The best marks of his career. When Marrone replaced Gus Bradley as head coach in 2016, Hackett was soon promoted to offensive coordinator. A year later, the Jaguars boasted the #1 rushing attack in the NFL and reached the AFC championship.
Sadly a regression from Bortles the next season and injuries elsewhere led to the team falling apart. The coaching staff was fired. Nathaniel Hackett didn’t have to wait long for a job. Lafleur scooped him up as offensive coordinator in Green Bay. After finishing 12th in 2018 and 15th his first year, they jumped to 1st last season and are #1 so far this year. Green Bay has lost just seven games since his arrival.
People will nitpick this idea because Hackett doesn’t call plays.
That should not matter. The most important thing is does Hackett have a sense of what his players can do and can he craft a system that maximizes their strengths and hides their weaknesses? After watching his work since 2011? The answer is yes. He has called plays in the past and had success doing so. Often with below-average QBs too. Now that he has a great one, the offense is the best in the NFL.
In their history, the Bears have never plucked a head coach directly from the Packers. This despite multiple opportunities to do so. If they were ready to consider breaking that streak, Nathaniel Hackett feels like a solid option.
