Reggie Bush on the set of FOX's pregame show Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK

Reggie Bush tells amazing NFL Draft story about Sean Payton

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Dan Benton | Last updated 10/1/22

Throughout the 2006 NFL Draft process, Reggie Bush and his representations were certain they’d go No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. However, the night prior to the draft that belief changed when reports surfaced that Houston intended to select Mario Williams instead.

That set in motion a flurry of activity which included Bush’s agent calling New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. He informed Payton that Bush wanted to go No. 3 overall to the New York Jets and asked that they pass on the running back.

As Bush recalls, Payton did not receive that request well.

Then #Saints coach Sean Payton told @ReggieBush agent "F**k you" and hung up the phone after his the agent tried to force the Saints not to draft him. (@IAMATHLETEpod) pic.twitter.com/30ZdLSBvUM

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 30, 2022

“So my agent called Sean Payton and was like, ‘Don’t draft us. We not coming. Don’t draft us, all right?,'” Bush said on the I AM ATHLETE Podcast. “And Sean’s like, just verbatim, ‘F–k you. I’m drafting Reggie Bush.’ And hung the phone up. Swear to God, hung the phone up.”

Although Bush was intrigued by the marketing opportunities in New York, a post-draft call from Saints quarterback Drew Brees helped him feel more at ease. Then, after seeing the city as they recovered from Hurricane Katrina, Bush realized he was in the right spot.

“When I look back on it,” Bush said, “Thank God I went to the New Orleans Saints.”

Bush spent five seasons in New Orleans before making stints with the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, San Francisco, 49ers and Buffalo Bills. He retired following the 2016 season and inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 2019.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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