Hackett says nobody’s as frustrated as him when asked about Broncos fans

It’s easy to say this is probably rock bottom for Nathaniel Hackett’s Broncos, but that’s probably not true.

With a game against the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday, followed by hosting the Chiefs, things are likely going to get worse before they get better. Denver is sitting at 3-8 on the season, but staring 3-10 in the face in 13 days.

At his press conference on Monday, after another debacle against the Panthers, head coach Nathaniel Hackett was asked about his message to the fans. Particularly, very, very frustrated fans who are upset with the product the Broncos are putting on the field every week.

“Nobody’s as frustrated as I am,” Hackett said. “This is not where we wanted to be at this time in the season. None of us thought it was going to be like that, and that responsibility is fully on me. I want to be the one that can do everything to help this football team, because we as a group have to come together and find a way to win a football game.”

It’s an old cliche, but perhaps an accurate one. While fans are livid, this is Hackett’s job and reputation. His career with the Broncos looks destined to end after one season, and his reputation around the NFL can’t be great. From a personality standpoint, it’s fine, but from a leadership and execution standpoint, things have gone horrible awry in Denver.

“We can’t play the way that we played yesterday and expect to win a football game. It starts with me from the practice, preparation, every single thing that we do. I’m the most frustrated. I think our fans are great. They want to win, just like we all do. So, I mean, I don’t blame them for being frustrated,” Hackett said.

It would obviously be a bad look if Hackett did blame fans for being upset. They have every right to be. But clearly what he’s doing right now to fix this mess isn’t working, and he’s running out of time and chances.

It would take a miracle for Hackett to get another shot at this in 2023.

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