Sean Payton believes Nathaniel couldn't hack it.
After a year away, the Super Bowl-winning coach has returned to an NFL sideline, this time leaving behind the bayou and trading it for the mountains. In his first year as head coach, Payton has something of a mountain to climb himself.
That's partly because he inherited a roster and an organization in rough shape, from the quarterback on down, which finished 5-12 in 2022. That also includes the former head coach, Nathaniel Hackett.
Hackett didn't even last a season as Broncos head coach during a tenure that featured a lot more bad than good. His standing as one of the worst head coaches in recent NFL history is well documented by all — including Payton, who had some choice things to say about his predecessor when he took the job.
Here's why the Jets and Broncos are locked in something of a grudge match this weekend:
What did Sean Payton say about Nathaniel Hackett?
On July 27, Sean Payton pulled no punches when it came to his predecessor and the job he felt Hackett did.
MORE: Why did the Jets hire Nathaniel Hackett? More than just Aaron Rodgers
"They can only beat the s— out of you so much. But everybody’s got a little stink on their hands," Payton told USA Today. "It’s not just Russell. It was a (poor) offensive line. It might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL. That’s how bad it was. …
"There’s so much dirt around (Russell Wilson's performance). There’s 20 dirty hands, for what was allowed, tolerated in the fricking training rooms, the meeting rooms," Payton said. "The offense. I don’t know Hackett. A lot of people had dirt on their hands. It wasn’t just Russell. He didn’t just flip. He still has it. This B.S. that he hit a wall? Shoot, they couldn’t get a play in. They were 29th in the league in pre-snap penalties on both sides of the ball."
MORE: What to make of the Sean Payton-Russell Wilson relationship
Payton isn't entirely wrong about his assertions, but it is rare when an NFL coach will be as blunt about his assessment as the veteran coach was.
It wouldn't take long for Payton to walk back his comments. The following day, Payton said he had on his "Fox analyst hat" when he made the remarks after a year working in TV.
"I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox hat on and not my coaching hat on," Payton said. "... It was a mistake, obviously. I needed a little bit more filter."
But the damage was already done. Several Jets players took note of Payton's comments and let him know his comments were more than a bit off base.
"Seems like someone started training camp and is trying to soften the blow after realizing what he’s in for this season. F—ing bum," offensive lineman Billy Turner wrote.
"As a man, I think it’s pretty soft. Think he’s trying to soften the blow," Randall Cobb said on a radio show. "That’s not my team, I'm not worried about them. He can say what he wants to say."
Payton's comments even caught the ears of Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who delivered a classic press conference moment in response to the criticism.
"I kind of live by a saying: ‘If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t popping.' So hate away," Saleh said. "Obviously we’re doing something right if you've gotta talk about us when we don’t play you until Week 4." Saleh would say in the week leading up to the Broncos-Jets matchup that the conversation between he and Payton would stay between them.
MORE: Rodney Harrison gets in on Jets disrespect of his own
As far as Hackett's response: He's taken the high road throughout the situation, refusing to take the bait in the week leading up to the revenge game.
"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."
Curiously, Hackett says that Payton never reached out to him or spoke with him at any point, despite Payton saying he'd reach out "at the right time."
Maybe the right time will be at midfield after Sunday afternoon's game.