Sean Payton backtracks his controversial comments about the NY Jets

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton wasted little time walking back the unprompted and controversial comments he made about the NY Jets and former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett in a recent interview published on Thursday.

Just one day after the interview — in which Payton called out the Jets and Hackett — was published, the new Broncos head coach told reporters that he "regrets" what he said.

"Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my FOX hat on and not my coaching hat on. I said this to the team: We've had a great offseason relative to that, I've been preaching that message, and here I am the veteran stepping in it. It was a learning experience for me, a mistake obviously. I need a little bit more filter. I needed a bit more restraint, I regret that."

Sean Payton

Payton called Hackett's tenure with the Broncos "one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL" before criticizing the Jets for the way they've gone about the 2022 offseason.

Payton seemed to blame the Jets for appearing on "Hard Knocks" even though the team did everything possible to avoid the show. He also criticized the Jets for the "pomp and circumstance" surrounding the team's acquisition of Aaron Rodgers.

It was a bizarre and unexpected rant that didn't sit well with the Jets, the Broncos front office, or really anyone around the NFL. That's probably why Payton walked back his comments a mere 24 hours later.

Sean Payton has provided the NY Jets with plenty of bulletin board material

Broncos insider Benjamin Allbright reported shortly after Payton's comments became public that many within the Broncos organization were unhappy with the team's head coach.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh took the high road when asked about Payton's remarks, but a number of Jets players responded online in a less friendly manner.

Take, for example, Jets offensive tackle Billy Turner, who spent last year in Denver and has played under Hackett for the last four years. Turner referred to Payton as a "f*****g bum" and even brought up the infamous Bountygate scandal.

Payton has unintentionally provided the Jets with ample bulletin board material for the team's Week 5 meeting with the Broncos. He's painted a bright red target on the back of his team. All the pressure will be on the Broncos when the Jets fly to Denver in Week 5.

Payton may regret what he said. He may have even offered up a lackluster apology. But he said what he said — there's no taking that back.

The Jets will have their Week 5 game against the Broncos circled on their calendars, and it's all thanks to Sean Payton and his unfiltered assessment.