Jets Lineman Unloads on Sean Payton for Hackett Critique: ‘F---ing Bum’
Jets offensive lineman Billy Turner did not hold back on his thoughts for Sean Payton after the Broncos head coach blamed part of Denver’s turmoil last season on current New York offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
Payton told Jarrett Bell of USA TODAY Sports that Hackett’s yearlong tenure in Denver was “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.” Hackett went 4–11 at the helm for the Broncos and was fired in December, before the end of the regular season.
Turner and Hackett’s relationship stems back to their days with the Packers, where Hackett previously served as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator from 2019 to ’21. When Hackett became the Broncos head coach, Turner returned to Denver as a free agent due to his friendship with his coach.
When Turner got a whiff of Payton’s comments, he took to Instagram to defend his coach.
“Seems like someone started training camp and is trying to soften the blow after realizing what he’s in for this season,” Turner wrote in his Instagram story about Payton’s quote. “F---ing bum. #BountyGate”
In addition to Turner suggesting that Payton will have a busy year improving Denver’s team this season, he also referred to the NFL suspending the coach in 2012 because of the Saints bounty program scandal.
While Payton believes Hackett was part of the problem in Denver and his dislike for the preseason publicity coming out of Jets’ camp, Turner clearly has full faith in his offensive coordinator. After Thursday’s war of words, the Broncos and Jets will settle their difference on the field when they play each other on Oct. 8 in Denver.
