Aaron Rodgers Fires Back at Sean Payton After Jets Diss - Find Out What He Said!

Aaron Rodgers and Sean Payton Andrew H. Walker/Shutterstock; Charles Baus/CSM/Shutterstock

Aaron Rodgers invoked Will Smith's famous Oscars rant during his dispute with Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton.

Payton, who is 59 years old, assumed the role of head coach for the Broncos after Nathaniel Hackett's departure earlier this year. Hackett, aged 43, now serves as the offensive coordinator for Rodgers' new team, the New York Jets.

Following a disappointing 4-11 record in the 2022 season, Hackett was fired by the Broncos. Payton, however, expressed his belief that he would bring better results this season and publicly criticized Hackett's coaching abilities, labeling it as one of the worst in NFL history. In response, Rodgers came to Hackett's defense, expressing his support and finding Payton's comments unexpected and inappropriate between coaches.

Rodgers quickly retaliated against Payton, expressing his disappointment in someone of Payton's stature resorting to tearing down others in order to bolster themselves in case of failure. He deemed Payton's remarks as highly inappropriate and crossed a line, insisting that Payton refrain from mentioning his coach.

Having previously collaborated for several years, Hackett and Rodgers played instrumental roles in transforming the Green Bay Packers into the most potent offense in the NFL during the 2020 season. Despite their departure from the Wisconsin franchise, the bond between Rodgers and Hackett remains unbroken.

Aaron Rodgers during team activities at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center Duncan Williams/CSM/Shutterstock

On Sunday, he expressed the depth of his admiration for Hack, emphasizing their memorable years together in Green Bay. He fondly spoke of their ongoing connection and praised Hack as an exceptional family man and father. On the field, Hack stood out as Rodgers' favorite NFL coach, thanks to his enjoyable approach, genuine concern for the players, and his admirable qualities of respect, leadership, honesty, and integrity.

Having played as quarterback for the Packers from 2005 to 2022, Rodgers made headlines in April when he officially joined the Jets. However, Payton criticized the move, claiming it was motivated more by showmanship rather than practicality. He expressed doubt that the Jets, touted as a "dream team," would be able to live up to the high expectations.

Payton subsequently apologized for his contentious remarks, acknowledging that it was an error on his part and expressing the need for more discretion during his interviews.

While fans eagerly anticipate Rodgers' inaugural appearance with the Jets, the athlete experienced a substantial reduction in salary upon departing from the Packers. His newly arranged two-year contract assures him $75 million, a notably lower sum when compared to the $110 million he would have received had he completed his four-year agreement with his previous team.

Rodgers acknowledged that the team had made substantial sacrifices for what initially seemed like a short-term agreement. "I understand that," he stated during an interview with ESPN on July 26th. However, he expressed his enjoyment and enthusiasm, stating that he doesn't view this as a one-year commitment. "Anything could happen, whether it's related to my physical condition or our overall success this year," he added. "But I'm thoroughly enjoying myself, so I don't see this as a brief and temporary arrangement. We have all moved forward and opened a new chapter. I believe it will be an exciting journey for Green Bay going forward. Personally, I have been having a great time here."