How Sean Payton’s preseason comments sparked the latest NFL feud between the Jets and the Broncos
Editor’s note: Watch USA TODAY Sports’ live coverage of “Sunday Night Football” to stay up to date on all the action.
A new NFL rivalry will get its first opportunity to play it out on the field on Sunday afternoon. And it all started with a series of offseason observations.
Sean Payton, the new coach of the Denver Broncos, attacked Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, in an exclusive interview with Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports. Though Payton didn’t exactly use Hackett’s name, it became plain and obvious that he was addressing the job Hackett did in 15 games last season as Denver’s coach, when he went 4-11 before being dismissed Dec. 26.
The remarks caused Payton to receive a lot of backlash, and they persisted even after the Denver Broncos’ season-opening 31-28 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. While it’s uncommon for NFL coaches to speak candidly about a forthcoming opponent in the moments following a game, Payton did so in Chicago at his postgame press conference.
Payton remarked on Sunday that the players may take pleasure in the victory. “Then, we get ready to go next week and we can dive into the whole Jets fiasco stuff.”
NFL data CENTRAL: Up-to-date NFL data, odds, schedules, and more.
The Jets (1-3) will travel to Denver (1-3) for a kickoff at Empower Field at Mile High at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Here is the Jets-Broncos beef, explained.
