Jets' Hackett discusses Broncos' Payton ahead of matchup

Nathaniel Hackett Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Jets' Nathaniel Hackett discusses Broncos HC Sean Payton ahead of Week 5 matchup

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/5/23

New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett told reporters Thursday that he's had no contact with Sean Payton since the Denver Broncos head coach made critical comments about his predecessor's job performance in 2022.

Hackett did his best to avoid the topic (and any questions on his Broncos tenure altogether) but confirmed that he never received an apology from Payton.

Hackett says he has had 0 contact with Payton. https://t.co/tKZYOuGjMM
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) October 5, 2023

Nathaniel Hackett says he has not received an apology from Sean Payton. Hackett, in his presser, doing his best to avoid commenting on Payton's criticisms from two months ago. Lots of short answers. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 5, 2023

Nathaniel Hackett has had zero contact with Sean Payton pic.twitter.com/bbQqClhvIa
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 5, 2023

When asked if he thought Payton regretted his harsh words, Hackett said, "I don't know. Ask him," per SNY's Connor Hughes.

During an interview with USA Today's Jarrett Bell over the summer, the former Super Bowl champion coach of 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 later expressed regret and said that he planned to contact Hackett's new club about his comments, but that apparently never happened.

In his response at the beginning of August, Hackett said that he's never spoken with Payton before.

Both Denver and New York are tied for last place in their respective divisions at 1-3. The Broncos host the Jets at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, and the winner could be buried further in the pack, while the winner has a chance to get back in the early postseason picture.

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