One of the better coaches in the league is officially back in the NFL. According to the latest rumors, the New Orleans Saints have decided to trade Sean Payton to the Denver Broncos. Payton retired prior to the 2022 season and spent the year working as a TV analyst.
Compensation: Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and next year’s second-round pick for Sean Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2023
New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Agree to Sean Payton Trade
After spending most of the past 15 years as the New Orleans Saints head coach, Sean Payton decided to take a step back for the 2022 season. In his stead, the team hired Dennis Allen, who led the organization to a [RECORD] record during his first year on the job. Payton, meanwhile, spent the year working as a TV analyst for Fox NFL Sunday.
Payton originally joined the coaching world back in 1988 but is best known for his time as the Saints head coach. Originally hired back in 2006, Payton and Drew Brees guided the team to a 10-6 record and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game as first-year head coach. After missing the playoffs in the next two seasons, Payton had the best season of his career in 2009. Brees and Payton guided New Orleans to a 13-3 record, culminating with an upset win over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
Payton’s Saints made it back to the playoffs in each of the next two seasons, but failed to reach another Super Bowl. The Saints postseason run ended in 2012, however, following the Bountygate scandal. Reports surfaced that New Orleans paid out bonuses for injuring opposing players from 2009 to 2011. Payton was suspended for the season, and the Saints went 7-9 in his absence.
To date, Sean Payton owns a career 152-89 record as a head coach in the regular season and is 9-8 in 17 postseason contests. He guided the Saints to the playoffs in nine of his 15 seasons as a head coach and won Super Bowl XLIV.
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