In the wake of the NFL’s second midseason coach firing taking place yesterday, the most highly-rated name not currently on the sidelines has come up again. Sean Payton remains the subject of speculation regarding his return to coaching, but the 58-year-old is remaining patient in weighing his options. 
As detailed by Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required), Payton has taken a liking to his new routine after stepping away from the Saints this offseason. That move led him to work as a Fox analyst this year, but, as confirmed in the interview with Howe, Payton is open to the idea of working as a head coach on an NFL sideline once again.
When speaking about his plans on that front, though, Payton said, “There’s no timeline or any of that. I’m sure at some point that’s going to happen.” The former Super Bowl winner is still under contract with the Saints, who would be in line for draft compensation from whichever team Payton chooses to join. On that point, he added, he will remain very deliberate and methodical in avoiding rebuilding situations.
“It would be the comfort level with ownership and the front office, with the leadership structure, with likeminded thinking,” Payton said of the circumstances describing his preferred destination. “Are more of those opportunities out there? I don’t think many. I think there are a lot of dysfunctional teams in our league. There are some places where talent can die. I just want to avoid those places.”
Last month, Payton’s name was attached to the Chargers, a team with high expectations and a first-time head coach in Brandon Staley who has put up middling results so far. Los Angeles could represent an intriguing destination for Payton based on his previously reported priorities relating to warm weather, a young core and authority on personnel decisions.
Casting further doubt on the notion that he will be back to coaching next spring, Payton added, “quite honestly, that next best job has to beat out the job I have now, which is pretty good.” Where that job will be, and when it becomes available, will remain worth watching into the offseason as the list of vacancies will likely increase.
“Are more of those opportunities out there? I don’t think many. I think there are a lot of dysfunctional teams in our league. There are some places where talent can die. I just want to avoid those places.”
This quote doesn’t give me much hope I’ll see him on the Raiders’ sideline the way I was hoping.
Count the Lions out as well!
Probably Jacksonville, too, though Pederson might turn them around given some time.
Gained a lot of respect for the man with that quote!
It’s truthful.
Looks like the “Packers” job is lining up for him.
Your diluted if you think the packers will move on from Lafleur
*Deluded
Seems fully luded to me
Grammar police are out today
That would be the vocabulary police, not the grammar police. (But kidding aside, I agree with you about Lafleur.)
Dude, you typed a completely different word. There’s no reason to get mad at someone else because you made a mistake.
Overrated as can be
I disagree. Drew Brees went from a middling quarterback to a star under his tutelage, while he even made Jameis look somewhat competent until he suffered a season-ending malady.
I also look at the year-year consistency of his offenses and ability to adapt to the deadening arm strength of Drew Brees as signs of his coaching ability.
Bountygate is a massive black eye, and his obsession with Taysom Hill was certainly questionable, but that hardly outweighs the positive attributes he displayed as a coach
Brees signed with New Orleans because his original club San Diego wanted Philip Rivers starting.
And, what’s your point?
The sky is blue. Cake is not a vegetable. Spiders are actually arachnids.
Wait, we’re just listing facts, right?
I can make an argument that cake is a vegetable. But let’s not digress
He’s overrated. He only won in a season where he had to put hits out on a 40 year old QB. LOL
Rams
Wish the Cowboys would consider him again…
He’ll wait it out for however long and how many years it’ll be to get the Cowboys job.
I think if the Cowboys flame out this year, Jerruh will come knocking.
He would be a great fit for the Bucs , they need to move on from Bowles (failure as a head coach) and OC Leftwich.
Bowles helped them win a Super Bowl. They’re not gonna pull the plug after one season with drastic injury issues.
The question I think is whether Bowles gets to try again after Brady moves on. The Bucs have been able to out-talent teams the last couple of years when they haven’t played well. With injuries and a couple of losses, they can’t do that anymore-despite still having most of their still highly talented players on the roster.
I think one thing, aside from that, is that now Brady and Leftwich (or maybe just Brady) has complete control of the offense. The offense has gotten worse. In addition, the Bucs aren’t running it anymore. Prior to that, their offense ran a lot through Fournette, and they played very well when he got a lot of touches. I don’t know if that running was Arians-specific or if today’s offense is a consequence of a QB having complete control and trusting himself, but the Bucs have a worse offense when Brady throws constantly. Does Tampa then decide to move on from Brady in the next year or two, or do they decide that he needs a better coach? That will play into Bowles’ fate as much as Payton’s availability.
I feel like Leftwich has earned a shot at running the offense with whoever the new QB is, and it’s not like Bowles hadn’t still been doing strong work with the defense.
I would agree. Again, the question that I cannot answer is how much Brady is running the offense, and whether it’s his input that resulted from them going away from the run game.
When he is on Colin Cowturd he seems anxious to get back to coaching. He will coach next year. I think it will be the Chargers are wunderkid isn’t cutting it.
He can sign with Seattle working in the front office and be on leave to work for FOX. THEN when Pete decides to move up he can step into the HC spot. He will have a couple years to wait can be involved in the draft and get the guys he will want. Hopefully Pete has another great draft like this one.
He’s not coming to Seattle. What you just laid out was a total pipe dream.
I agree…thought this could be a possibility for while now. Can move in when Pete retires takes another position with team. With future draft picks Can help pick his guys for future.
Chargers seem like the only real destination. I know Broncos fans are getting giddy hoping he wants to coach there, but I don’t think he wants to deal with that mess!
The Chargers, a game out of first in the AFC West, a team whose rematch vs. Kansas City just got flexed into Sunday Night Football?
Apparently players aren’t the only prima donnas out there. The guy doesn’t want to roll up his sleeves and do any work, he just wants a championship caliber team to be dropped in his lap while he draws a huge salary. Hope he just stays retired.
Sean Payton is still the property of New Orleans.
From the story you commented on: “The former Super Bowl winner is still under contract with the Saints, who would be in line for draft compensation from whichever team Payton chooses to join.”
What do you suppose he goes for? A first? Two firsts?
I think that he could fetch a very high price, but he has leverage by being retired. Payton may only want to return for a team that he trusts, but that team will have to cough up the compensation to make it worth it. That sort of gives whatever team wants his rights a bit of leverage, if they know that Payton will not come out of retirement for them.
Of course, the Saints may decide to throw in even more assets if they need to leverage higher picks. There are a handful of veterans in New Orleans who aren’t exactly old but have concerns that might impact a rebuild, but still could fetch good picks. Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara could be pieces that could enhance a deal, or be dealt separately to stockpile picks. If the Saints wanted to, they could really build a hoard without getting all of it from a Payton deal. That may make them less desperate to deal him for less than they want, or maybe they could use those players to help facilitate a deal.
My knees are sore.
Answer: “There are some places where talent can die. I just want to avoid those places.”
Question: “Is Carolina on your list?”
He’d be great to be Head Coach of my Vikings!