Robert Saleh responds to criticism of Nathaniel Hackett

Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Robert Saleh responds to Sean Payton's criticism of Nathaniel Hackett

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 7/27/23

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn’t pull any punches when he criticized the job Nathaniel Hackett did as the team’s coach last season in a recent interview with USA Today.

Fair or not, Payton’s remarks didn’t sit right with many in the New York Jets organization, including head coach Robert Saleh, who took the opportunity to chirp back at the 59-year-old Payton in defense of his offensive coordinator.

“I’m not going to acknowledge Sean,” Saleh told reporters. “He’s been in the league a while, he can say whatever the hell he wants. …I kind of live by the saying: ‘If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t popping. So hate away.’ Obviously, we’re doing something right if you’ve got to talk about us when we don’t play you until [Week 5], and I’m good with it.”

Sean Payton did not hold back on the performance of Broncos former coach Nathaniel Hackett. pic.twitter.com/4HMKmk9CK3
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 27, 2023

Hackett lasted just 15 games in Denver, posting a 4-11 record while the Broncos ranked last in scoring offense (16.9 points per game) and 21st in total offense (325.1 yards per game) with the seventh-most giveaways (23) in the league. They were undisciplined, as evidenced by their ranking 29th in pre-snap penalties on both offense and defense.

Payton has not been shy about changing the Broncos' culture, eliminating the shenanigans he said went on in the meeting and training rooms. He even permanently did away with Russell Wilson’s personal office and support staff, pushing the quarterback to join his teammates back in the locker room.

Although his Broncos tenure was a disaster, Hackett wasn’t out of a job long. Saleh hired him to be the Jets offensive coordinator during the offseason, where he’s reunited with QB Aaron Rodgers. Hackett was his OC in Green Bay from 2019 to 2021.

Through his first few months on the job, Saleh has nothing but positive things to say about Hackett.

“I think (he’s) is doing a phenomenal job here,” Saleh added. “…I get it, there’s a lot of external noise, a lot of people who are hating on us, and there’s a lot of people looking for us to fail. There’s a lot of crows pecking at our neck.”

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