While Aaron Rodgers may have taken offense to Sean Payton’s strong words about Nathaniel Hackett, Stephen A Smith believes that Payton was well within his rights to express his candid opinion. On his YouTube podcast, Stephen A Smith voiced his support for the former New Orleans Saints coach, commending him for not holding back in his assessment of Hackett’s performance as the now-former head coach of the Denver Broncos.
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As a shield for his quarterback Russell Wilson, Sean Payton didn’t hold back in placing the blame on Nathaniel Hackett for the Denver Broncos’ abysmal performance last year. Payton’s criticism of Hackett’s coaching abilities aligned with Stephen A Smith’s views as well.
Stephen A Smith Supports Sean Payton’s Take on Nathaniel Hackett
Stephen A Smith recently came to the defense of Sean Payton, backing the former New Orleans Saints coach for his honest evaluation of Nathaniel Hackett’s coaching abilities. On his podcast, Smith affirmed Payton’s right to criticize Hackett for the Denver Broncos’ dismal performance during his one-year tenure as head coach. He even went on to mention how Payton’s assessment of Hackett aligned with his own views.
“Sean Payton was pretty critical of Nathaniel Hackett, who is the now former head coach of the Denver Broncos… He did an absolutely horrendous job… He was so bad, he should have fired himself,” said Stephen A Smith during his podcast.
Smith further emphasized the impact of Hackett’s coaching decisions on the team’s overall performance. “This is what he had to say… That’s a new coach that’s ticked off that he has to deal with the stuff that he has to deal with—the residue, the stench of what’s left behind,” he stated, echoing Payton’s sentiments.
In defending Payton, Stephen A Smith reinforced the notion that coaches’ performances in the NFL should be openly evaluated, even if it involves criticizing their decisions and actions on the field.
Aaron Rodgers Stands Up for Nathaniel Hackett Amid Sean Payton’s Controversial Comments
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers openly expressed his disapproval of Sean Payton’s recent criticism of Nathaniel Hackett, the former Denver Broncos coach and current offensive coordinator for the New York Jets. In a sit-down interview after practice with NFL+, Rodgers expressed his disapproval, saying,
“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 went on to describe Payton’s comments as “way out of line” and “inappropriate,” urging him to refrain from mentioning his coaches’ names. He emphasized the depth of his bond with Hackett, calling him “arguably my favorite coach I’ve ever had in the NFL” and praising his approach to coaching.
In a show of solidarity, Jets head coach Robert Saleh also came to Hackett’s defense, responding to the controversy surrounding Payton’s remarks. Saleh confidently stated, “I kind of live by the saying, ‘If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t popping.’ So hate away. Obviously, we’re doing something right if you’ve got to talk about us when we don’t play you until [Week 5].”
The Broncos coach later apologized for his remarks, acknowledging that they were a mistake. However, the aftermath of his comments reverberated through the NFL community, with Rodgers and Jets coach Robert Saleh both coming to Hackett’s defense. As the Jets and Broncos gear up to face each other in Week 5, the controversy surrounding Hackett’s coaching abilities and Payton’s criticism continues to linger.
