Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers quarterback, recently responded to New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton’s criticism of Nathaniel Hackett, the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets. Payton had criticized Hackett for his play-calling during the Jets’ Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Rodgers, who has been a long-time admirer of Hackett, was quick to come to his defense. In an interview with ESPN, Rodgers said that Hackett was a “great coach” and that he had “a lot of respect” for him. He also said that he believed Hackett was doing the best he could with the talent he had on the Jets’ roster.
Rodgers’ comments come as a surprise to many, as it is rare for a player to publicly defend a coach from another team. However, Rodgers’ admiration for Hackett is well-known, as he has praised him in the past for his work with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
It is clear that Rodgers has a great deal of respect for Hackett and his ability as a coach. While it is understandable that Payton was frustrated with the Jets’ performance against the Dolphins, it is important to remember that Hackett is still relatively new to the team and is still learning how to best utilize the talent he has.
Ultimately, Rodgers’ comments are a reminder that coaches should be given time to adjust and develop their teams, rather than be judged too harshly after one bad game. It is clear that Rodgers has a great deal of respect for Hackett and believes in his ability to turn things around in New York.