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It’s a wonderful time to be Sean Payton!
The former head coach of the New Orleans Saints retired from coaching just one year ago. Like a few other popular former football coaches, Sean Payton ventured into television broadcasting this season as an analyst for Fox Sports.
Today, Sean Payton (whether he wants another coaching job or not) is the most popular NFL head coaching commodity in America!
It’s that time of year when the NFL fires about 25% of its head coaches. In the 32-team league, an average year will find eight head coaches fired. That also means eight coaching vacancies.
On the Monday following the NFL’s final regular season game, “Black Monday” will cause several NFL coaches to become unemployed. This season, a few of those jobs have become available a few weeks earlier than usual.
On Monday of this week, the Denver Broncos fired their rookie head coach (Nathaniel Hackett) with two games left in the regular season.
The 4-11 Denver Broncos have literally imploded. The team’s Christmas Day performance on national television embarrassed the city and millions of Broncos fans around the country. Denver was overwhelmed 51-14 by the five and dime (5-10) Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon.
The Denver Broncos were sold in June, 2022 to a group led by a couple of heirs of the Sam Walton family (as in WalMart). The price tag was $4.6 billion. The new franchise owners have been quite successful in business. They aren’t waiting. Change is coming quickly in Denver.
Enter Sean Payton?
The 58-year old head coach of the 2011 Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints is being talked-up by the national and local media and NFL fans around the country for the Denver job and other job openings which will become available around the NFL.
There are only a handful of NFL coaches who have earned a Super Bowl ring. The select group of coaches who have taken their team to the mountaintop of the NFL includes:
Eight active NFL coaches with a Super Bowl Ring:
Bill Belichick – New England Patriots – 6 Super Bowl Rings – Age 70
Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 71
Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 64
John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 60
Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys – 1 Super Bowl Ring (Green Bay) – Age 59
Doug Pederson – Jacksonville Jaguars – 1 Super Bowl Ring (Philadelphia) – Age 54
Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 50
Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 36
Eight former NFL Coaches with a Super Bowl Ring (Age 70 and under):
Mike Shanahan – Denver Broncos – 2 Super Bowl Rings – Age 70 (Fired by Wash. 2013)
Bruce Arians – Tampa Bay Bucs – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 70 (Retired 2022)
Brian Bilick – Baltimore Ravens – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 68 (Fired/Retired 2007)
Tony Dungy – Indianapolis Colts – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 67 (Retired 2008)
Bill Cowher – Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 65 (Retired 2006)
Gary Kubiak – Denver Broncos – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 61 (Retired/Health 2017)
Jon Gruden – Tampa Bay Bucs – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 59 (Resigned from Raiders 2021)
Sean Payton – New Orleans Saints – 1 Super Bowl Ring – Age 58 (Retired 2022)
Prior to the Denver job coming available, another coaching vacancy existed in Carolina. Matt Rhule was fired by the Panthers earlier this season with four years left on his contract. Rhule has already found a new job as head coach at the University of Nebraska.
Then there was long-time NFL coach, Frank Reich, of the Indianapolis Colts. He was fired in November. Like Rhule, Frank Reich will receive four more years of pay under his contract arrangement. Reich is well liked around the NFL and may find another job soon.
We’re already up to three possible landing spots for a highly-sought NFL coach (with a Super Bowl ring) like Sean Payton.
Within the next two weeks, there could be job openings coming at Arizona (Kliff Kingsbury), Las Vegas (Josh McDaniel), and Houston (Lovie Smith). Even Payton’s replacement in New Orleans (Dennis Allen) is on the hot seat following a mediocre first season in the Crescent City.
In each city, the name “Sean Payton – former Super Bowl winning coach” is the first choice of most fans and talk show hosts.
Sean Payton can afford to be very choosy right now.
His success in New Orleans came as a result from having a (generally) supportive General Manager (Mickey Loomis) and a hands-off owner in Tom Benson (and, more recently, his widow Gayle).
But there was another important element to the New Orleans Saints success during his time as the head coach. Quarterback Drew Brees and Coach Payton were extremely compatible in developing and executing the Saints offense. In the years when the Saints defense was better than average, New Orleans was a regular title contender for more than a decade.
Let’s take a closer look at several possible landing places for Coach Sean Payton:
Denver Broncos –The signing of quarterback Russell Wilson to a five year deal this summer could either entice Sean Payton or scare him off. Unlike Drew Brees, Russell Wilson’s attitude is often fragile. He may be unwilling to make significant changes. On Tuesday, the Broncos affirmed the continued employment of current General Manager George Paton.
SwampSwami sez: NO WAY! UNLESS… Sean Payton is offered the GM spot in addition to the Head Coaching position. Job #1 is to sit down with the moody $50 million/year QB Russell Wilson. Perhaps Drew Brees would consider becoming Denver’s Offensive Coordinator and give him the job of turning Russell Wilson’s performance around.
Carolina Panthers – I just don’t see Sean Payton taking the head coaching spot in the same division (NFC South) as his former Saints team. The Panthers’ current interim coach Steve Wilks has done a good job recently and liked by local fans.
SwampSwami sez: Very unlikely.
Indianapolis Colts – The Colts have underperformed this year but compete in the weak AFC South. The Colts’ owner, Jim Irsay, has frequently inserted himself into the media. Sean Payton’s prior owner in New Orleans was known for doing the “Benson Boogie” after wins but not for his active meddling in team matters.
SwampSwami sez: Though this could be a possibility, Indy’s owner is frequently visible and quirky (Sound familiar, Dallas fans?). Highly unlikely.
Arizona Cardinals – If Kliff Kingsbury is released after a disappointing season, this job may hold some interest for Sean Payton. The Cardinals current GM Steve Keim is highly regarded for drafting and signing talented players. The team’s ownership, led by Michael Bidwell, has been a part of the franchise for decades. The Cardinals have underperformed for two straight years. And, like the Saints, the Cardinals play in a domed stadium.
SwampSwami sez: If Sean Payton is content with remaining a head coach (and not in becoming a team’s General Manager), this could be a possible landing spot. Establishing a trusting relationship with quarterback Kyler Murray will be critical for success in Arizona. Keep your eye on this one!
Las Vegas Raiders – The Raiders General Manager (Dave Zeigler) came on board in early 2022. His most recent experience was with the New England Patriots. The Raiders’ current head coach, Josh McDaniels, also came from New England. The Al Davis family still controls the Raiders and is actively involved in team operations.
SwampSwami sez: I don’t like the current “fit” here. Like in Denver, I think Sean Payton will want total control of the Raiders’ football team and personnel decisions. It is unlikely that the Davis family (notoriously cheap) will spend the money to make that happen. A very long shot.
Houston Texans – This is the worst franchise in the NFL. Even fan favorite and future Hall-of-Famer J.J. Watt asked to escape NF-Hell in Houston a few years ago. Sean Payton would need to become the General Manager and head coach in order to make sweeping changes in Houston. The current GM (Nick Caserio) migrated from New England two years ago. He has bombed – just like everyone before him. The Texans’ ownership (the McNair family) has a history of bad hires and behind-the-scenes meddling in team issues.
SwampSwami sez: I think Sean Payton would have a terrific time rebuilding this franchise from the ground up. Sean Payton could become a folk hero (like the legendary former coach, Bum Phillips) in football-mad Houston. However, the Texans’ meddling ownership remains. I would like to see this happen, but it is unlikely.
New Orleans Saints – I don’t think Sean Payton would return to the Crescent City and “burn” his former defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, by taking his job away after just one season.
SwampSwami sez: If Sean Payton returns to the Saints, look for him to take the General Manager title and groom a new head coach. This could be a real possibility – in another year.
Summary:
Sean Payton is the rock star of NFL coaching candidates this year. However, each coaching vacancy means that another talented coach failed for a variety of reasons.
Payton should evaluate each new opportunity as if he is marrying into a new family.
His relationship with the General Manager and the franchise ownership (the in-laws, if you will) will be the foundations of future success or failure.
If Sean Payton simply wants to return to coaching in the NFL next season, the Arizona job (if it becomes available) seems like a good fit.
If Houston or Denver should offer him the General Manager and head coaching positions, Payton must insure that he has the total support of team ownership prior to beginning a rebuild.
At the moment, there is not one single job opening which screams, “That would be the PERFECT job for Sean Payton”. He left a better situation in New Orleans last year than he may find in any of this season’s head coaching opportunities.
Sean Payton is the NFL’s current “King of the Forest”. His only problem will be turning down so many NFL teams who will be begging for his services.
It’s good to be the king!