Denver Broncos star quarterback Russell Wilson has addressed the recent dismissal of former head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
Hackett, previously the Packers' offensive coordinator, was let go just 15 games into his first season with the Broncos.
Wilson, who has struggled in Denver after arriving from the Seahawks in a blockbuster offseason trade, offered up high praise for Hackett and accepted some of the blame for Hackett's fate while speaking with reporters on Wednesday.
"This season has been a season that we never thought was going to happen the way it did," Wilson said. "He was a guy that put all his time and all of his effort into us, as players, staff members, coaches as well. So, I think that he's an amazing coach, one of the better minds I've been around.
"I think also, too, it's been a crazy season -- tons of injuries, tons of everything else -- but the reality is that I wish I could have played better for him. I wish I could have played at the standard and the level that I've always played at, and I know I can play at. But, what I do know is that's he resilient, he's a tremendous coach, and I love him to death, and everybody will miss him for sure."
Wilson, 34, has looked like a shell of his former self in Denver's lost season. The nine-time Pro Bowler has 12 touchdowns, nine interceptions and 3,019 passing yards while appearing in 13 of the Broncos' first 15 games. He sat out in Week 7 due to a strained hamstring and was sidelined by a concussion in Week 15.
Hackett's firing came on Monday, one day after his team's 36-point drubbing at hands of the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.
Despite Wilson's generous words, Hackett was widely panned for his performance at the helm in Denver. His ill-fated tenure got off to a dubious start in the season-opener, when he badly mismanaged the clock in a tough road loss to the Seahawks on "Monday Night Football." Hackett later admitted he had botched the situation.
Similarly unimpressive performances would follow. A brutal overtime home loss to the Colts in Week 5 was dubbed by some fans and journalists "the worst game in NFL history."
Meanwhile the famously optimistic Wilson said he isn't discouraged despite the forgettable campaign. Per ESPN.com:
"... Tough year in a lot of ways, just physically ... [I'm] used to scoring a lot of touchdowns, winning a lot of games and that hasn't happened, [it's the] first time it's been like this,'' Wilson added. "... My expectations are higher than everybody else's ... my mission is still the same -- bring Super Bowls to Denver.''
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