Sean Payton was linked to a number of a head coaching gigs this offseason, but it sounds like the former Saints HC was legitimately looking to take a break in 2022. There’s still a chance he’ll be ready to return to the sideline for the 2023 campaign, and if that’s the case, the long-time coach would have a few preferred destinations.
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A source told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that the Dolphins, Cowboys, and Chargers would interest Payton if the jobs became available. Of course, the source was also adamant that Payton “would never lobby for a filled job” and would only have interest if those organizations move on from their current coaches. Further, the source indicated that Payton valued “warm weather, a roster good enough to compete and most importantly, control over personnel decisions” at a new stop, and while a good QB would be helpful, that’d be secondary to his other priorities.
If you’ve been following the Payton rumblings throughout the offseason, you’re certainly not surprised about the Miami connection. There was a reported deal in place with the Dolphins that would have seen him join Miami alongside Tom Brady if not for Brian Flores‘ racial discrimination lawsuit. As Jackson writes, Payton was “flattered” by the Dolphins interest, but he truly intends to take time away from coaching in 2022. Further, while a previous source indicated that the Dolphins offered Payton a five-year, $100MM contract, Jackson notes that the Dolphins never had the opportunity to offer the contract since they were never granted permission by the Saints to speak to the coach.
Of course, the Dolphins ended up pivoting to Mike McDaniel, and the organization is hoping they won’t even have to think about a Payton pursuit next year. There’s also the status of general manager Chris Grier, but Jackson opines that the executive wouldn’t have an issue with deferring to Payton.
Payton has also previously been connected to Dallas, where he spent three seasons as the QBs coach before landing the HC gig with the Saints in 2006. Mike McCarthy has had a roller coaster two years in Dallas; after a 6-10 campaign in 2020, the former Packers HC led the team to an NFC East title last season. Unfortunately, that brief success was overshadowed by an underwhelming playoff loss, leading some to speculate that McCarthy could be on the hot seat. Jerry Jones made it clear that he’s committed to McCarthy, but things could obviously change if Dallas underwhelms in 2022.
The Chargers are an interesting inclusion on Payton’s list. The organization gave Anthony Lynn four seasons before replacing him with Brandon Staley, and there’s a good chance that the replacement will have just as long of a leash as his predecessor. Staley would surely get more than two seasons to guide the Chargers back to the postseason, but things could have obviously change if the organization has a chance to lure a coach with Payton’s resume.
He’s still under contract with the saints. Is another team going to cough up draft picks to get him as a coach?
No chance Sean Payton hitches his wagon to the Chargers and their incompetent and chronically dishonest trust fund owners. The Spanos fools have no class and perpetually bad karma.
Payton isn’t exactly a man of great integrity. He was suspended for a year
The suspension was more due to the actions of his veteran defensive coordinator and was a bit overblown based on the evidence. I don’t argue with your main point though that there isn’t any evidence that Payton would or would not do something solely for the sake of integrity.
Even so, he should be smart enough to see how grossly incompetent and publically loathsome the Spanos were in San Diego. The emerging drama amongst the siblings, after the recent squabble in Denver, should make Payton wary on its own.
I have a lot of trouble believing that Payton did not know what was going on in Bountygate. Despicable behaviour.
Coach hype is boring
As usual, Mike Florio refuses to reveal any real source backing this. He rails on about how everyone is ignoring this story. The reason is because he’s the source for all of it. A few beat writers who also dwell in speculation writing corollary articles doesn’t constitute enough reason to continue to hear the drum like he has been (not that that has ever stopped that talking head from spouting his personal opinions on everything on the planet).
Payton was under contract to New Orleans, so this speculative deal that Miami did but did not offer according to Florio would have been met with something other than resound “yes” by the league.
Who cares he’s a coach who won one super bowl. And was suspended for having hits put out on players
I believe it was DC Gregg Williams who proposed the bounty hunt (which was comically ludicrous). The Saints defense was ranked about 25th in 2009 and couldn’t hit anything.
The two most interesting options, in my opinion, have the same problem: owner-GMs. Dallas seems to have been on the verge of this partnership for ages, and has a good enough roster for Payton to get started with. Thing is, I highly doubt that he won’t want to shape it to his liking, and he would need long term and sustained cooperation from Stephen and Jerry Jones for that. I don’t doubt that they would support him, but the question becomes whether they would yield to Payton in situations where they disagree. Jerry has a good relationship and familiarity with Payton, true, but he’s had that with coaches before who have had their times end in abrupt or badly noted fashion-Jason Garrett being a recent example.
Cincinatti would absolutely entice Payton, I would think, and has an offense reminiscent of the early Brees-Payton era, with multiple good WRs and a solid ground attack that plays wide open in the passing game. I also do not think that Zac Taylor, bolstered by a competent second year showing, is irreplaceable in Cincinatti. The question is, as always, how much support Mike Brown would give to a new regime. He’s not one for splashy moves, so there’s no real chance he tries to lure him in, but if the opportunity became open, I think that Payton would consider it.
Miami just hired a new coach that seems to have taken control over the program. The Shanahan derived zone scheme is very system based, so hiring a coach that runs something else would essentially mean a reboot of the current roster realignment that figures to continue next year. Ultimately, this is Ross’ decision, and I don’t think that Grier is so egotistical as to dismiss a legendary coach, but I doubt that they pull an Arizona and blow up the rebuild after a year.
The Chargers, in the toughest division in the West, poor home crowd, and new ownership struggles figure to be a bad choice bolstered by a strong roster. The tantalizing irony of Payton going to seek the origins of his HoF quarterback isn’t enough for me to think that a coach who was burnt out from coaching will seek to climb Mount Everest on his first day back.
There is zero chance that Taylor would be fired anytime soon. And zero chance that the Bengals would hire a guy that would want so much more control than they’ve ever given before. Even though Katie Blackburn does most of the day to day operations, Mike would have final say in this
I said that I think that there’s no chance. I do believe that the roster is intriguing for Payton. I do not believe that Zac Taylor is on the hot seat, but he was before this past season and could plausibly be again sometime in the future. If picking between him and Burrow, we know whose interests the Bengals would go for. As you said, and I said before, I do not believe that Mike Brown would be enthralled with such a radical move. But if for some reason it became possible, I think that Payton would be interested.
Duke Tobin, by the way, is essentially the GM in Cincy.
Duke Tobin is in charge of scouting but when money is involved, it’s the Browns making the decisions. Even if Taylor would get fired, there’s is zero chance Payton would be interested. Zero
As I said, Mike Brown is the major issue. Just as in Dallas, having someone in charge who may not step aside when they disagree with a decision would likely be a nonstarter for Payton.
I seem to recall the Bengals hosting a playoff game several years ago where the wind chill was around -32 degrees. I don’t think anyone will convince Payton that this qualifies as warm weather.
1981-82 season against San Diego. That was just windchill. It was much warmer than that. Haha
The Gatorade and beer was frozen solid but you could get warmer if you acquired a taste for anti-freeze.
I was in Florida working then.