Nathaniel Hackett finally speaks out on Sean Payton who ‘broke code’, says YET to receive the apology from the Broncos coach

Hackett said Payton broke the unsaid code between the coaches.

Nathaniel Hackett finally speaks out on Sean Payton who ‘broke code’, says YET to receive the apology from the Broncos coach

New York Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett responds to Sean Payton's criticism (Image credit: Getty)

It has been an eventful few days for NFL fans. As the franchises finally began their preseason training camps, they should have focused on the players. However, the headline was stolen by Denver Broncos HC Sean Payton for his unwarranted comments against his predecessor, Nathaniel Hackett. Hackett has finally addressed the situation without naming the current Broncos’ head. He claimed that Payton had broken an unwritten “code.”

“The last week has been very unique,” the 43-year-old said after the New York Jets’ latest practice session in Florham Park, New Jersey. “I’ve been involved in this business my whole life. There’s a code. We know that.”

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Hackett continued, stating that the past week had been very challenging. “This past week, it’s been frustrating. The mistakes you make cost you your job. I’ve got no excuses,” the Jets new offensive coordinator claimed.

Last week, Sean Payton attacked Hackett, who was the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2022, but his poor performance last year cost him the job. Payton, who took a break from coaching and became an analyst for a short while, was appointed earlier this year. The Super Bowl-winning former coach of the New Orleans Saints blamed Hackett for the results. He claimed quarterback Russell Wilson was not to blame for the results, but rather the coach labeled it the “worst coaching job in history.”

Although Payton later tried to damage control by retracting his words, he did not make a formal apology to Hackett. Moreover, the former Packers shot caller was expecting harsh words for his poor performance last season but wasn’t ready to hear them this early.

“You knew it was going to happen,” Nathaniel Hackett told ESPN. “I was more surprised that it happened now. I was expecting it in Week 5.”

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Has the Payton-Hackett feud rekindled the Broncos and Jets’ longstanding rivalry?

New York Jets, Denver Broncos
A still from New York Jets vs Denver Broncos from the 2022 season(Image credit: Getty Images)

The recent verbal war between Sean Payton and Nathaniel Hackett may have been foreshadowed. But hardly anyone was expecting it to escalate to the point that most of the NFL is now looking forward to watching both of them face each other.

It’s always been a grand affair between the New York Jets and the Denver Broncos since the two AFL originals first met on Sept. 9, 1960. Joe Namath‘s Jets used to dominate the early matches. But the Broncos pegged them back in the latter half of the 1970s.

At the 1998 AFC Championship, the Big Apple team was mere pushovers for the Mile High, as they had an easy 23-10 win. Who can forget 2011 Tim Tebow’s darting run for a touchdown?

Thus far, the Broncos hold the advantage with a 21-17 lead with one tie. Last year, however, the Jets got the better of Hackett’s former side with a 16-9 score. Fans will eagerly await October 9, when these two go toe-to-toe in renewed rivalry.

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