Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett says Sean Payton hasn't reached out to him after criticism
New York Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said he hasn't heard from Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton after Payton criticized his coaching job during his one season with the team.
Hackett was fired as head coach of the Broncos before the end of his first season and a few months after Payton replaced him, assessed the job Hackett did after the team went 5-12.
It's just one of the many storylines this week, as New York plays the Broncos in Denver on Sunday.
"This game is about those guys out on the field. It's not about me," Hackett said during a Thursday press conference. "Gotta go win a football game."
Payton put the blame for the Broncos' poor 2022 season squarely on Hackett's shoulders telling USA TODAY Sports in July that Hackett did "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL" and added there were "20 dirty hands" around quarterback Russell Wilson.
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Wilson was sacked 55 times and posted career lows in quarterback rating, completion percentage, and touchdown passes.
After hearing those comments, Hackett said Payton violated an unwritten coaching code when it comes to publicly criticizing other coaches.
Payton backtracked days later and said he regretted those comments. He also said he would reach out to Hackett and Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
When asked if he thinks Payton regrets what he said, Hackett replied, "I don't know. Ask him."
This season, the Jets are next to last in passing yards, 30th in total offense, and quarterback Zach Wilson ranks 32nd out of 34 qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating.
The 1-3 Broncos are 10th in total offense, and Wilson, who is tied for third in passer rating, has thrown nine touchdowns and two interceptions this season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jets' Nathaniel Hackett hasn't heard from Sean Payton after criticism
