Broncos coach Sean Payton regrets Nathaniel Hackett barbs - ESPN

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton called his scathing public criticism of former Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett «a mistake,'' and said in the future „I need a little bit more filter'' when asked about the team's 2022 performance.

In an interview with USA Today's Jarrett Bell earlier this week, Payton called Hackett's 15-game run with the Broncos “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL'' and said there were „20 dirty hands'' around quarterback Russell Wilson's career-worst season that included just 16 touchdown passes and a league-high 55 sacks.

Payton also likened how the Broncos handled the high-profile arrival with what he called the “pomp and circumstance'' with which the New York Jets have handled Aaron Rodgers' arrival.

After Friday's training camp practice, Payton apologized and said he intends to reach out to both Hackett, now the Jets' offensive coordinator, and Jets coach Robert Saleh. Payton spoke to the Broncos players about his comments Thursday in a team meeting.

»Listen, I had one of those moments where I still had my Fox [network television] hat on and not my coaching hat on,'' Payton said Friday. «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.''

Payton added, „I needed a bit more restraint, I regret that.''

Hackett was fired Dec. 26, 15 games into his first season with the Broncos and Payton was formally introduced as the team's new coach in February. He did not coach last season and worked as an analyst at Fox Sports.

On Friday, Payton also addressed criticisms that appeared to be