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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Christian D'Andrea

Jets players and coaches dapped up Nathaniel Hackett after helping him beat Sean Payton’s Broncos

Nathaniel Hackett Sean Payton Nate Hackett Jets Broncos Zach Wilson Christian DAndrea Christian DAndrea TrainIsland NFL Robert Saleh

The Week 5 showdown between the New York Jets and Denver Broncos was, officially, a battle between two one-win teams whose daring trades for veteran quarterbacks had failed to pan out. Unofficially, it was a showdown between a Super Bowl winning head coach and the guy he replaced — the same guy he publicly trashed during the offseason.

Broncos coach Sean Payton took over for Nathaniel Hackett in Denver and didn’t hold back when it came to his predecessor. According to Payton, Hackett’s handling of Russell Wilson “might have been one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL. That’s how bad it was.” He’d later apologize for his comments, but that toothpaste was out of the tube.

This led to a circled calendar date of October 8. That’s when Hackett, now offensive coordinator for the Jets, would get his chance at revenge. And he claimed it, upending Payton and Wilson in Colorado despite having to start Zach Wilson at quarterback.

The New York offense shined in fits and starts without imploding while the Broncos once again sputtered in the second half. As the clock ran out on a 31-21 win, Jets’ players and staffers sought out Hackett to let him know they had his back.

That was just a sampling of the love Hackett got on the sideline.

Hackett earned a game ball for the win, which improved New York to 2-3 on the season, left their arch rival New England Patriots in the AFC East basement and stoked the team’s playoff hopes for at least another week. More importantly, it gave fans, players and the Jets’ official social media accounts themselves bragging rights.

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