Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton. Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton explains 'regret' over Jets, Nathaniel Hackett comments

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/28/23

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is walking back his criticism of his predecessor and the New York Jets.

The first-year Broncos leader met with the media on Friday afternoon and said he regretted his harsh words about Nathaniel Hackett "40 minutes" after his recent interview with USA Today's Jarrett Bell. During the interview, Payton said that Hackett's performance during his 15-game run in Denver "might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL."

Sean Payton said he maybe still had his FOX hat on during his interview with @JarrettBell and not his coaching hat. Payton said the Broncos had a great off-season outside of that interview. He regretted it 40 minutes after the interview. pic.twitter.com/SftDtwGNnU
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 28, 2023

The 2006 AP Coach of the Year also called out the Jets as a whole, saying that they were going to fail in a similar fashion to the Broncos' 2022 disaster.

"We're not doing any of that. The Jets did that this year. You watch. 'Hard Knocks,' all of it. I can see it coming," Payton said.

The 59-year-old told reporters on Friday that he plans to contact the Jets about his comments.

Sean Payton said he will reach out to the Jets … “at the right time.”
He added that he’ll handle it the right way and that this brings more interest to the Jets and Broncos game Week 5
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) July 28, 2023

Although fans have heard from multiple players who were with the Broncos last year (including now-Jets offensive lineman Billy Turner), as well as New York head coach Robert Saleh, there hasn't been any reported response from Hackett himself. Thus far, Saleh, Turner and now-Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb have all been supportive of Hackett.

With the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Garrett Wilson and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner on the roster, with Dalvin Cook possibly on his way, Gang Green has been the talk of the NFL this summer. Payton's comments make for a highly anticipated Week 5 showdown in the Mile High City and a must-see season of HBO's "Hard Knocks" coming in August.

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