Nathaniel Hackett
Head Coach — Arizona Cardinals
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About Nathaniel Hackett
Nathaniel Hackett was the head coach of the Denver Broncos for approximately fifteen games before the entire organization collectively decided that was enough. His tenure in Denver produced some of the most memorable coaching disasters in recent NFL history, including a Week 1 loss to Seattle where he chose to attempt a 64-yard field goal instead of letting Russell Wilson try to convert a fourth down with over a minute left. The internet did not forgive this. The internet will never forgive this. Hackett became a verb. "Don't Hackett this" entered the football lexicon overnight.
Now he's the offensive coordinator in Arizona, which is either a redemption story or a sequel nobody asked for, depending on which corner of the internet you're reading. The play-calling reputation followed him from Denver to New York to Arizona like a shadow with WiFi. Every questionable call gets the same treatment: "Classic Hackett." Every good drive gets treated with suspicion: "Even Hackett gets lucky sometimes." He exists in a unique space where his coaching decisions are memed before they happen, because the internet has already decided what a Hackett play call looks like, and no amount of good scheming will undo that first impression.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Nathaniel Hackett such a legendary meme figure in the NFL?
The Denver debut. Most coaches get fired quietly. Hackett got fired loudly, publicly, and with a highlight reel of bad decisions that the internet cataloged and preserved forever. The 64-yard field goal call in Week 1 alone generated enough content to last a decade. He didn't just lose games in Denver. He lost them in ways that felt personally designed to become memes.
What makes his Arizona role interesting for parody content?
The redemption angle. He went from head coach disaster to offensive coordinator, which is the NFL equivalent of a CEO getting demoted to regional manager and having to prove he can handle the smaller job. Every play he calls in Arizona will be viewed through the Denver lens. Good play? 'Maybe he learned.' Bad play? 'He's Hacketting again.' The internet has given him a permanent grade modifier.
Last updated: April 2026