New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Robert Saleh seemingly took great pleasure in humbling Sean Payton

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/9/23

There’s no question Sunday’s 31-21 win over the Denver Broncos was personal for New York Jets, head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.

Both teams spent the week leading up to the game downplaying Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s criticism of Hackett for Denver’s shortcomings when he was the coach last season, but Saleh’s antics after the victory prove Sunday’s win meant a little more.

Did Robert Saleh tell Sean Payton to “stay humble” in their postgame handshake? pic.twitter.com/1uqEjSvB13
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 9, 2023

The post-game handshake wasn’t the only moment Saleh seemingly took a shot at Payton. While answering a question about the defensive adjustments he made in the second half, the third-year head coach seemingly questioned Payton’s coaching ability.

“Let me say this the right way…they were getting us on a lot of screens, and [Russell Wilson] was getting a lot of yardage with his feet,” Saleh said. “So, it was just a matter of taking out the screen game, taking out the QB scramble, make him play quarterback. Felt like the way they were calling it wasn’t letting him playing quarterback.”

Though Payton may have accused Hackett of “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL” in 2022, the latter got the last laugh on Sunday as the Jets put up a season-high 407 yards of total offense and dominated time of possession by nearly 10 minutes over Payton’s team.

Hackett was presented with the game ball in the locker room. Saleh had an ear-to-ear grin on his face as as he and the team celebrated their OC beating his former team.