Jets interim Jeff Ulbrich replaces Nathaniel Hackett with Todd Downing as the offense's play caller

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Jeff Ulbrich shook up the New York Jets' struggling offense in his first major move as interim head coach.

Ulbrich announced Thursday he replaced Nathaniel Hackett with Todd Downing as the offensive play caller. Downing, the Jets' passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, takes over as New York prepares for a showdown with the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills on Monday night.

Hackett — who is close to quarterback Aaron Rodgers — will remain the offensive coordinator in title, but is taking a back seat to Downing in what is now an undefined role.

“After a lot of time to think about it, and I did not make this decision easily, by any means, I'm going to make Todd Downing the play caller for the New York Jets moving forward,” Ulbrich said. "This is more a byproduct of a different take on things. Not saying it's a better or worse take on things, by any means.

“But it's just a different take on things. A fresh approach.”

Ulbrich took over as coach Tuesday after owner Woody Johnson stunningly fired Robert Saleh with the team off to a 2-3 start and on a two-game losing streak. New York can move into a tie with Buffalo for first place in the division with a win.

But things need to get a lot better on offense first for that to happen.

The Jets with Rodgers at quarterback have been inconsistent this season and appeared conservative and predictable in the team's past two games, in particular. Hackett's performance has been criticized by many fans and media, who thought the Jets needed a change. There were reports Saleh was considering making a similar move to demote Hackett before he was fired.

Ulbrich, who said he’ll retain his duties as defensive coordinator while also serving as interim coach, agreed with trying something different.

“Ultimately, Todd will have the full say on the game plan and ultimately the plays that are called within the game,” Ulbrich said.

New York is ranked 27th overall in offense and last in the NFL in rushing.

“We’ve got to be assertive,” Ulbrich said. "We’ve got to play with confidence. We’ve got to run off the ball. We’ve got to play on our terms. Can’t be afraid of mistakes and half-stepping. ...

“And I’m very confident we're going to see that Monday night.”

Ulbrich said he spoke to Rodgers, who is close to Hackett from their time together in Green Bay, about the move and trying to improve the offense. Hackett was hired in 2023 to replace Mike LaFleur — and Rodgers was traded to the Jets a few months later.

“It was obviously, not necessarily shock, but we all are familiar with the relationship he has with Nathaniel,” Ulbrich said. “They're very, very good friends and they go back a long ways.

"He understood the decision and he was supportive of the decision.”

Ulbrich, a former NFL linebacker and longtime defensive assistant with an energetic, straight-talking approach, said he wants to try to also have “an influence” on the offense.

“I'm going to really look hard at this week and how I can find those places to infuse my personality into that side of the ball,” Ulbrich said. "From a strategic or from a schematic standpoint, I don't know if there'll be a ton of input. But as far as style of play, absolutely.

"The way this thing looks on Monday night, I'm hopeful that I can infuse that into them."

Downing joined Saleh's staff last year as the passing game coordinator and added coaching the quarterbacks to his duties before this season. The 44-year-old Downing is a longtime NFL assistant who has also served as an offensive coordinator for the Raiders (2017) and Titans (2021-22).

“For every Tennessee offense that I ever won against when when Todd was the play caller there, they were tough, they were ruthless, they finished, they ran the ball," Ulbrich said. "They played on their terms. And there’s definitely a style that appealed to me in that way."

Ulbrich said Rodgers (ankle/hamstring) will be limited at practice, but will be fine to play. ... CB Michael Carter II (back) won't practice. ... TE Tyler Conklin (hip) will be limited. ... Ulbrich said RT Morgan Moses, who missed the past two games with a knee injury, is “on track to play.” ... LB C.J. Mosley (toe) will see increased action in practice after missing the past three games. ... DT Leki Fotu (hamstring) remains on injured reserve, but Ulbrich is hopeful he could play on Monday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

FILE - New York Jets passing game coordinator Todd Downing walks the field before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

FILE - New York Jets' offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett talks to reporters before a practice at the NFL football team's training facility in Florham Park, N.J., Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

FILE - New York Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich walks the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt, File)

Jets interim Jeff Ulbrich replaces Nathaniel Hackett with Todd Downing as the offense's play caller

Jets interim Jeff Ulbrich replaces Nathaniel Hackett with Todd Downing as the offense's play caller

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, a former Greece international who also played for Sheffield United for seven seasons, has been found dead in his Athens home. He was 31.

Police said Baldock's body was found late Wednesday in his swimming pool in the southern suburb of Glyfada. The cause of death was not immediately clear.

Police spokeswoman Konstantina Dimoglidou said there is no initial indication the death was suspicious.

She told The Associated Press on Thursday that the coroner who examined the body “informed us that there is no evidence of a criminal act.”

She added: "The house too was searched by the criminal investigations directorate. It doesn’t seem that a criminal act took place but the investigation is continuing for any eventuality.”

ERT television said the coroner determined drowning as the cause of death, but Dimoglidou was not immediately able to confirm that.

Britain-born Baldock, who was of Greek heritage, was called up for Greece in 2022 and played 12 matches, the last in March in the loss on penalties to Georgia in the Euro 2024 playoffs.

He was not in Greece's squad for Thursday's UEFA Nations League game against England.

“There are no words to describe the human pain caused by the news of the untimely loss of one of our young people," the Greek soccer federation said in a statement via UEFA. "This moment calls for silence. Condolences to his family. Condolences from his second family. Goodbye."

Baldock joined Sheffield United in 2017 and helped the club earn promotion to the Premier League twice, in 2019 and 2023. He joined Panathinaikos in May, on a three-year contract, after Sheffield United was again relegated to England's second division.

“Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock,” the club said on social media. “The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and team-mates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him.”

Panathinaikos said in a club statement, "We are shocked, we feel appalled by the loss of our George. The family of Panathinaikos mourns his sudden death. We stand with the family and loved ones of George Baldock.”

The English Football Association confirmed there would be a period of silence before Thursday's Nations League match between England and Greece at Wembley, and players of both sides would wear black armbands. UEFA said a similar tribute would be paid when Greece hosts Ireland on Sunday.

The FA confirmed tributes would also be paid prematch to Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, who died last week aged 79.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Sheffield United's George Baldock during the English Premier League soccer match between Sheffield United and Manchester City at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, England, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, who had previously played for Sheffield United, has been found dead in his Athens home, Greek media reported. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File)

FILE - Sheffield United's George Baldock, left, blocks a shot by Manchester City's Phil Foden during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Sheffield United at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, who had previously played for Sheffield United, has been found dead in his Athens home, Greek media reported.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson, File)

FILE - Greece's George Baldock, right, takes a free-kick during the Euro 2024 qualifying play-off soccer match between Georgia and Greece at the Boris Paichadze National Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Former Greece international and Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, who had previously played for Sheffield United, has been found dead in his Athens home, Greek media reported.(AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili, File)

FILE - Greece's George Baldock stands on the pitch before the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between Gibraltar and Greece at the Algarve stadium outside Faro, Portugal, Friday, March 24, 2023. Former Greece international and Panathinaikos defender George Baldock, who had previously played for Sheffield United, has been found dead in his Athens home, Greek media reported.(AP Photo/Joao Matos, File)