The Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers was bothered by critical comments Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos’ head coach, recently made about offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Payton told USA Today in a story published on Thursday that Hackett’s 15-game stint with the Broncos last season “was one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.”
He also said there were “20 dirty hands” around Russell Wilson’s career-worst season with the Broncos in 2022, and took some shots at the Jets – Hackett’s new team.
“It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall if it doesn’t go well for that team this year,” Rodgers told NFL Network on Sunday. “I think it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Rodgers, acquired by New York in April from Green Bay, said Hackett is “arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL.” The pair worked together for two of Rodgers’ four NFL MVP awards in 2020 and 2021 with the Packers.
Payton also criticized the Jets being the latest NFL team “trying to win the offseason” – something he said the Broncos under Hackett tried to do and were “embarrassed.”
When asked about Payton’s comments, Jets coach Robert Saleh said that “Hackett’s doing a phenomenal job here.
Payton on Friday said he regretted his comments in which he disparaged Hackett, and added that he would reach out to Hackett and Saleh “at the right time”.
“Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox hat on and not my coaching hat,” said Payton.
