Sean Payton hasn’t even coached a preseason game with the Denver Broncos, and he’s already causing quite a media firestorm.
Last week, in an exclusive interview with USA TODAY Sports, Payton ripped former Denver head coach Nathaniel Hackett for his coaching while at Mile High. With Hackett now the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, that led to a corny defense from head coach Robert Saleh. Just days later, Aaron Rodgers showed up in Hackett’s corner, calling Payton “insecure” for criticizing him so sharply.
On Tuesday, Hackett finally addressed the comments himself. At first, you might have thought he took the graceful high road. But when Hackett starts referencing how coaches “live in glass houses,” it’s pretty clear he was actually responding with a fiery shot back at Payton.
#Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett opened his presser today with a response to Sean Payton:
"As a coach, we live in a glass house. There's a code and there's a way things are done in that house."
Hackett said he hasn’t heard from Payton.
(🎥 @snyjets)
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 1, 2023
Honestly, that might be one of the best and most subtle comebacks to a bubbling feud I’ve ever heard. What better way to respond to criticism than to indirectly say someone shouldn’t throw stones from a glass house? Beyond where he could soon fall short with the Broncos himself, Payton is certainly not immune to past controversy, given his role in the New Orleans Saints’ infamous bounty scandal.
Football is a cruel game that chews up and spits out coaches all the time. Payton might (kind of justifiably) think Hackett did a terrible job with the Broncos. And he might air out that dirty laundry for all to see in public. That is his prerogative. But, even with his on-field reputation of success, that doesn’t mean Payton will fare any better at Mile High.
This was how Twitter reacted
I have no issues with what Peyton said bc it was true…Hackett was awful last year but there's no reason he can't be better this year https://t.co/52DkgrGDts
— Q (@JusCallMeQ81) August 1, 2023
I get the response and the code, but he sucked as a head coach last year. https://t.co/wdjTNH9Amk
— Derek Haglund (@KUTheHill) August 1, 2023
Good response from Hackett. I like Hackett as a person, he just was a really really bad Head Coach lol https://t.co/pt8VNJByMo
— Phillip Beohm (@philly_5oh) August 1, 2023
Week 5 is should be a nationally televised game. 🍿 https://t.co/HqV0bbhV9o
— Mannie Vee. (@Mannie06) August 1, 2023
Terrific response https://t.co/UCVOozGZ5x
— Ben Leber (@nacholeber) August 1, 2023
Really great response from Hackett here. Respect it a lot @9NEWSSports #9sports https://t.co/oTGknf7Is4
— Jacob Tobey (@JacobRTobey) August 1, 2023
Pretty good response https://t.co/htEoWT5i4O
— jamie stuart (@jamiestuartTV) August 1, 2023
I’m a Broncos fan, and Hackett is a great human being but he was a bottom of the barrel head coach. Yeah SP was harsh, but he didn’t say anything that was a lie. Hackett led a dysfunctional team and he was inept as a head coach. With that being said, I wish him the best. https://t.co/pJbWaTaQgk
— Fred Saunders (@TheFredzilla) August 1, 2023
Yall care way too much about that man said. There’s not a code. Just do your job and keep it pushin https://t.co/LemwD2yScn
— Vince Fraumeni (@vince_fraumeni) August 1, 2023
