A recent report connected Sean Payton to resurfacing in the NFL next season, tying the former Saints coach to the Cowboys, Chargers and Dolphins. Connections to Dallas and Miami have persisted, though Los Angeles represents new territory here. Any team that hires Payton would need to compensate the Saints, who have the Super Bowl-winning HC under contract through 2024.
But Payton rumors are unlikely to die down anytime soon. The 16-year New Orleans coach is set to work for FOX this year, but he continues to view a return to the sidelines as likely.
“Ultimately, do I think I’ll get back in? Sure,” Payton said, via Jarrett Bell of USA Today. “There’s no way to predict who that club might be. Usually, there are about six openings every year. If there’s a right fit somewhere, that ultimately will depend on several factors. … We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
Payton, 58, does not plan to push for an already-filled position. Though, his prospective interest in certain jobs would open the door to teams making offseason maneuvers next year. The Cowboys, who employed Payton as their quarterbacks coach from 2003-05, have been connected to a Payton trade off and on for many years. With Mike McCarthy not exactly secure beyond this season, Payton rumors are unlikely to cease. For what it’s worth, Jerry Jones attempted to distance the Cowboys from the unavoidable Payton buzz by reaffirming his commitment to McCarthy last month.
The Payton-Tom Brady-Miami connection endured this offseason as well, and Payton is believed to have been flattered by the AFC East team’s pursuit — one that may or may not have been close to crossing the finish line. The team having just hired Mike McDaniel complicates a Payton-to-Miami push next year, though one-and-done HCs are obviously not unprecedented.
Brandon Staley underachievement with what looks like a strong Chargers roster this season would be something to monitor, given the new Payton connection. And, even though Payton is not believed to have quarterback play as a prerequisite for a landing spot, Justin Herbert could certainly sway matters — if that job becomes available. Given the roster Staley now has, it would be hard to imagine the former Rams defensive coordinator being booted after two years. But stranger NFL coaching storylines have certainly emerged.
Payton is set to work on both FOX Sunday pregame shows, per Bell. This path has kept Bill Cowher from making a long-rumored return, but Jon Gruden eventually came back to the sideline. Cowher and Gruden were much younger than Payton when they initially stepped away. Dick Vermeil, who spent 14 years in broadcasting between his Eagles and Rams gigs, was 60 when he returned to coaching in 1997. Payton’s comments in January and this week would point to a shorter hiatus.
Payton will be the next head coach of the Patriots once Bill decides to call it a career. You read it here first…
Bill will coach until he breaks Shula’s winning record. He’s not done anytime soon unless he’s pushed out.
Bill will be coach when my unborn grandson is eligible for the draft lol
Bill will still be running that team from the grave lol
A lot of people in Miami including PLAYERS are excited about Mike McDaniel as head coach. It’s really sad that writers have to push this Payton thing when McDaniel hasn’t even finished training camp season 1. Can writers just quit with the drama???
I don’t think that McDaniel will be pushed out any time soon, either. Payton likely just wants a reset, but it begs the question of what made him feel burned out-the prospect of a rebuild, or the quarterback (s) that he would be rebuilding with?
Is Payton okay with starting over from scratch and building a new team, or does he want to go somewhere with a franchise QB already in place?
If I’m a Saints fan, I’d be beyond pissed. Payton retires to avoid coaching through a rebuild (while still collecting salary), then resurfaces a couple years later with aspirations to coach a contender.
I don’t think he is collecting salary since retired. Saints do own his rights through 2024.
Appreciate the correction. Shows how little I know about coaching contracts. Wasn’t sure if any/all of it was guaranteed.
They’re not paying him not to coach and they’re not treating the current team as a rebuilding one anyway. To be pissed at Payton as a Saints fan would be kind of nuts. Did he not do enough for the franchise? Something like two thirds of all their playoff appearances came on his watch.
And that guy named Drew Brees. I don’t think he wanted to go the way Belinchek went. He lost Brady and hasn’t won a playoff game since and Brady won the Super Bowl. I don’t think Payton wants to go 7-10 where it looks like it was more Brees than him. Ego is a bad thing
So is projecting.
You don’t find it a bit curious that he left after he lost Brees and didn’t make the playoffs? A few years of that can ruin a legacy.
There’s a long road from “You don’t find it a bit curious?” to assuming he doesn’t want to be like Belichick (who just made the playoffs with a rookie QB, FWIW) and acting like this has to be ego. He could just be ready for a change of scenery. Maybe he wants to figure that out before his younger kid starts high school. Maybe he just needed to cool his heels for a year, and Fox is paying him a huge amount of money to do significantly less work.
Not buying it. Funny that he retired but he’s already said he wants to work if the situation is right. I’m guessing him and Brady will hook up in Miami. Ross already has proven that he’ll fire a coach with a winning record. In the end, I really don’t care what Payton does or who he coaches.
Payton should take care of his health for awhile – as he put on lots of weight in the last couple of years.
I can’t confirm it but apparently broadcast microphones are low in saturated fats while containing essential minerals a healthy body needs.
They’re what plants crave.
Seattle might be a option also. Pete C might decide to step down next year at 71. With upcoming draft picks Payton would have chance to groom team around a new QB.