Broncos' Russell Wilson responds to Sean Payton's expectations: 'He's a legend'

Sean Payton knows he has work to do to bring the Denver Broncos back to the top of the NFL.

This is an organization with eight AFC Championships and three Super Bowl wins under its belt, but the Broncos haven't been in the playoffs since 2015 when they won the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning as their quarterback. They're also coming off arguably one of the most embarrassing 5-12 seasons of all time.

From executing a massive trade to bring in Russell Wilson to firing first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett after a 4-11 start, everything about 2022 was a disaster for Denver.

That wasn't something Payton was shy to discuss recently, which landed him in a bit of hot water with one notable future Hall of Fame quarterback. He also wasn't afraid to discuss what the expectations in Denver should be, and that's the playoffs. In fact, he'll be angry if the Broncos don't make the dance.

Payton may be throwing some heat behind the Broncos this offseason, but that's all fine and good with Wilson and his teammates.

“That’s a statement that we all know that we all want to do,’’ Wilson said of Payton's comments on the playoffs, per ESPN. “Anything not first is second, or last in my opinion. He’s a legend in this game and we trust everything he feels about it.’’

Veteran wideout Courtland Sutton agreed with his quarterback.

"I think the guys who have been a part of the past seasons understand the sense of urgency we have to have. Coach has come in and let it be known the main thing is the main thing.’’

For Payton, the main thing is winning, and he's done plenty of that as an NFL head coach. He went 152-89 with a Super Bowl win in 15 years as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.