Jets HC Robert Saleh believes Nathaniel Hackett’s Denver return will be ‘personal’ after being humiliated by Sean Payton a few weeks earlier

Sean Payton replaced Nathaniel Hackett as the Broncos' head coach this offseason.

Jets HC Robert Saleh believes Nathaniel Hackett’s Denver return will be ‘personal’ after being humiliated by Sean Payton a few weeks earlier

Nathaniel Hackett (L - via Forbes), Robert Saleh (M - via The channel/YouTube) and Sean Payton (R - via NY Post)

The New York Jets and Denver Broncos game this Sunday is one of the most anticipated matchups of the season. Not because these two teams are Super Bowl contenders, but because there’s bad blood. Again not between the players, but between Broncos’ head coach Sean Payton and Jets’ OC Nathaniel Hackett.

It all started earlier in training camp this year when Payton blasted Hackett for his poor coaching job in Denver the previous year. Hackett was signed as the Broncos’ head coach at the beginning of last season. However, the Denver-based team had a terrible season under him and Hackett was fired after just one season. He was replaced by Payton. Although Payton was considered an upgrade on Hackett before the start of the season, it hasn’t panned out like that.

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Jets HC Robert Saleh talked about their game against the Broncos on Sunday. He also addressed Hackett’s return to Denver and said that it would be ‘personal’ for his OC. “From whatever was said in training camp, in a football life, that was like 20 years ago,” Saleh said. “That’s a non-topic, but obviously it is going to be a personal feel to go back.”

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He further continued by saying, “I think [Hackett] understands, coach’s kid and going through this process, he will know how to handle himself. He will know how to keep his emotions in check and to make sure we do what’s best for this organization and this team with how it stands now. I fully expect him to be perfectly fine and levelheaded.”

Both the Broncos and the Jets are 1-3 to start the 2023 season. Payton has had a rough time in Denver as the team has struggled defensively. The Jets on the other hand lost their starting QB Aaron Rodgers for the entire season in the first game due to an Achilles injury. Expect a lot of fireworks in this one.

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Sean Payton talked about the Broncos first win against the Bears

The Denver Broncos avoided going into a 0-4 hole by beating the Chicago Bears in come-from-behind fashion. After trailing by 21 points in the third quarter, the team rallied and came back to win the game 31-28. HC Sean Payton talked about their win after the game.

Sean Payton
Sean Payton (via Sports Illustrated)

“I told the players afterwards, look, there is a lot of things that we’re going to have to clean up, and we are still not doing well,” Payton said. “But the one thing that I was proud of is they hung in there. They fought when it would’ve been real easy not to. We came up with enough plays in the end, but we’re going to have to play a lot better if we think we want to win more games this season.”

Payton and the Broncos will face the New York Jets in their next game on Sunday. They will hope to build on their win against the Bears. Payton became the Broncos’ head coach earlier this offseason.

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