New York Jets vs. New England Patriots (Photo via @awfulannouncing Twitter)
“Thursday Night Football” analyst Kirk Herbstreit couldn’t help but take a vicious shot at New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett during tonight’s game against the New England Patriots.
Kirk Herbstreit and Al Michaels are on the call for tonight’s AFC East showdown at MetLife Stadium. This game marked Aaron Rodgers’ first home game with the Jets since Week 1 of the 2023 season, when he suffered a season-ending Achilles tear minutes into his New York debut against the Buffalo Bills.
During the first quarter of tonight’s game, Herbstreit put Hackett in a body bag by implying that Rodgers is simply making the offensive coordinator look better than he is as a play-caller:
“It’s amazing how Nathaniel Hackett all of a sudden looks like he knows how to call plays when he has No. 8 (Rodgers) back there,” Kirk Herbstreit said.
“It’s amazing how Nathaniel Hackett all of a sudden looks like he knows how to call plays when he has No. 8 back there.” – Kirk Herbstreit
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets take a 7-0 lead over the Patriots on Thursday Night Football. #TNF #NFL 🏈📺🎙️ pic.twitter.com/uMEDo5HJyx
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 20, 2024
Social media noticed and had a lot to say about Herbstreit’s ruthless shot at the Jets’ second-year offensive coordinator:
“It’s amazing how Nathaniel Hackett looks like he knows how to call plays all of a sudden when he has #8 back there”
Kirk Herbstreit from the top rope! 😂 pic.twitter.com/A8wqog22fx
— Mannie. (@PremierVee) September 20, 2024
“It’s amazing Nathaniel Hackett all of sudden looks like he knows how to call plays when he’s got #8 back there” –@KirkHerbstreit 🤣🤣🤣🤣
— goon (@guiney15) September 20, 2024
“Nathaniel Hackett looks like he all of the sudden knows how to call plays” @KirkHerbstreit is relentless 😆
10/10 take right there @NFL #NFL #NEvsNYJ
— Riggs Tamburo (@RiggsSportsTalk) September 20, 2024
Kirk Herbstreit did not have to put Nathaniel Hackett in a body bag like that😂
— Bob – Knower of Football (@OKeesh24) September 20, 2024
#RandomThought I know I’m not the only one who caught Kirk Herbstreit say “It’s funny how Nathaniel Hackett all of a sudden looks like he knows how to call plays with Aaron Rodgers in the backfield…” LMAO
Lowkey calling that man the hack (excuse the pun) that he is #TNFonPrime
— Big Mike Be 3X Dope (@blak_magus) September 20, 2024
Lol @KirkHerbstreit
“Nathaniel Hackett all of a sudden looks like he knows how to call plays with #8 back there”Boom roasted. #TNFonPrime
— Coach Chris Scarola (@CoachScarola) September 20, 2024
Kirk Herbstreit has a strong point here, though. Hackett looks like a top-tier play-caller as long as the four-time MVP and future Hall of Famer is behind center.
The 44-year-old Hackett was the Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021. Rodgers won back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 with Hackett as his OC, and the latter’s success got him the Denver Broncos’ head coaching position in 2022.
After all, Hackett was fired after 15 games as Denver’s head coach, and Robert Saleh moved quickly to hire the ex-Packers assistant as his new OC. We also saw how the Jets offense fared last season once Rodgers suffered his season-ending injury.
Sure enough, the Jets offense is clicking with Rodgers back behind center.
Kirk Herbstreit & Al Michaels Begin Another Year Together
Herbstreit and Michaels joined the “Thursday Night Football” broadcast booth in 2022, when Amazon Prime Video took over the TNF package from FOX Spots. Michaels left NBC after a 15-year run (2006 to 2021) and was replaced by Mike Tirico, paving the way for Amazon to bring in the legend on a three-year deal.
