A recent report connected Sean Payton to resurfacing in the NFL next season , tying the former New Orleans Saints coach to the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Miami 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 head coach under contract through 2024.
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. 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. Given the roster Staley now has, it would be hard to imagine the former Rams defensive coordinator being booted after two years.
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.
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