Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers came to the defense of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after the latter recently was on the receiving end of some pointed words from Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.
Payton referred to Hackett in an interview with USA Today on Thursday as doing “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL,” during Hackett’s 15-game stint with Denver last season. The Broncos were 4-11 when they fired Hackett and finished 5-12.
Payton also criticized the way the Broncos’ organization handled the lead-up to the 2022 season after it acquired quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks. He then took issue with the Jets for attempting to win the offseason on the heels of obtaining Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers.
Payton apologized for his comments on Friday. However, Rodgers wasn’t going to let it end there.
“It made me feel bad that someone who has accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some easy fall if it doesn’t go well for that team this year,” Rodgers told NFL Network. “I think it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coaches’ names out of his mouth.”
Rodgers and Hackett worked together with the Packers from 2019-2021 when the latter was the team’s offensive coordinator. Hackett is currently the offensive coordinator for the Jets.
–Field Level Media