Former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett. Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Jets' Nathaniel Hackett responds to Broncos HC's harsh words

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 8/1/23

New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett commented Tuesday for the first time since Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton harshly criticized the former Broncos head man.

Hackett is entering his first season on the job in New York, while Payton is taking over in Denver. The Broncos finished 5-12 and in last place in the AFC West during the 2022 campaign, and Hackett was fired following the team's Week 16 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.

Hackett says Payton has not called him to apologize. Says he’s never spoken to him.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 1, 2023

Hackett says he has not received an apology from Payton. And he doesn’t expect one even though Payton said publicly he’d call to apologize. #Jets pic.twitter.com/ECFvFbBjec
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 1, 2023

Payton expressed regret on Friday, one day after blasting Hackett's 2022 job performance in Denver.

During a recent interview with USA Today's Jarrett Bell, the former Super Bowl champion coach with the New Orleans Saints, said that Hackett's effort with Denver "might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL."

Payton also called out the Jets as a whole, saying that they were going to fail in a similar fashion to the Broncos' 2022 disaster. The 2006 AP Coach of the Year said Friday that he plans to contact Hackett's new club about his comments.

Multiple members of the 2022 Broncos, including now-Jets offensive lineman Billy Turner and Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb, as well as New York head coach Robert Saleh have all commented on the situation and been supportive of Hackett. Four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers has also discussed the issue multiple times, and on Tuesday, said he "didn't like (Payton's comments) at all."

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