Sean Payton, the head coach of the Denver Broncos, and Nathaniel Hackett, offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, have had a very interesting offseason that sparked a heated feud between each other. As the ex-head coach, Hackett, was shown the door by the Broncos, Payton entered, and he didn’t do it quietly. After a very public and defaming quote by Payton, Hackett looks to prove him wrong in the week five matchup against his old team. As the Denver Broncos prepare to face the New York Jets on Sunday, there may be more at stake for the coaches involved than just another win for their team.
Nathaniel Hackett Returns To Denver To Face Sean Payton And The Broncos
The History of the Broncos, Sean Payton, and Nathaniel Hackett
The 2022 season for the Broncos was anything but pretty. As Russell Wilson and Nathaniel Hackett came to town, hopes were high for an organization that hadn’t won in years. Surprisingly, by the end of the year, the Broncos were 5-12 and Hackett was out of a job. Hackett’s offense was ranked last in scoring and the team never got off the ground. On Christmas day, after a 51-14 loss to the 4-10 L.A. Rams, Hackett was let go. Even though Hackett’s time in Denver was a disaster, he was hired by the Jets this past offseason.
During his time as an analyst for FOX, Sean Payton made it clear that if he was head coach, Russell Wilson wouldn’t be struggling. It seems that the Broncos believed he was correct, trading for him in the offseason. As Payton took on the role, he had lofty goals for the team and himself. Payton was quoted as saying “I’m going to be pissed off if this is not a playoff team”. His goals for the team were loud and bold, but his criticism of the old regime was even louder.
As the NFL preseason was set to begin, Sean Payton decided to put his analyst cap on and say a few things about Hackett “That was the parents who allowed it. That’s not an incrimination on him (Russell Wilson), but an incrimination on the head coach, the GM, the president, and everybody else who watched it all happen.” he continued, saying “It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL. That’s how bad it was.”
The Backlash And Consequences For Sean Payton and Nathaniel Hackett
Sean Payton’s comments were not received well by anyone in the NFL, especially the Jets. Coaches and players rushed to Hackett’s defense with loving words and hateful comments towards Payton. Hackett believed that Payton broke the “coaches code” with his comments and only wanted to look to the future. After the Payton interview surfaced everyone turned their eyes to week five, where Payton could put his money where his mouth was and defeat the man who had one of the “worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
That week has finally shown up. Neither team has had the success that they envisioned when these comments were made, both being 1-4. The Jets lost their star quarterback for the year in week one, which has led Nathaniel Hackett’s offense to, again, average 16 points a game. Sean Payton’s hopes for the playoffs are looking bleak. The Broncos are ranked 30th overall on defense and can’t seem to find a way to win.
When these two teams square off on Sunday, it may be for their seasons. The rivalry that was created by Payton this offseason will come to its head. Once the game is over, the coaches and players will walk onto the field to shake hands. Will Nathaniel Hackett be embarrassed once again or will Sean Payton eat his own words?
Main Photo: [Ron Chenoy] – USA Today Sports
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