Report: Dolphins wanted Sean Payton, Tom Brady for 2022 NFL season

The Miami Dolphins somewhat controversially moved on from head coach Brian Flores following the 2021 NFL season and ultimately hired former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as Flores' replacement. McDaniel and new offensive coordinator Frank Smith have both publicly backed 2020 first-round draft pick Tua Tagovailoa as the club's starting quarterback for the upcoming campaign, but it appears the franchise could've gone in a much different direction this winter. 

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Dolphins planned to pursue Sean Payton as their next head coach after he parted ways with the New Orleans Saints and also wanted none other than Tom Brady to be their starting quarterback. The ideas were complicated by Payton's situation with the Saints, Brady's uncertain future and his place on the Buccaneers roster and the lawsuit filed by Flores against the NFL, Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos. 

The Dolphins declined to comment when asked by Florio about the situation. 

Payton's contract with the Saints runs through 2024, meaning the Dolphins would've had to contact New Orleans about a potential trade for the 58-year-old's services. Brady, meanwhile, is signed with the Bucs for the 2022 season but has repeatedly been linked with a potential move to the San Francisco 49ers, his favorite childhood team. 

Florio notes the Dolphins could be interested in Brady serving more as a minority owner than a player moving forward if the future Hall of Famer is serious about retiring and also that it's "unclear whether and to what extent either Payton or Brady were actually aware of the plan to pursue them." 

Per the terms of Brady's deal, the majority of his $32 million salary-cap charge pushes over to 2023 if he officially goes off the Tampa Bay roster via retirement or a trade after June 2. For now, rumors insisting the 44-year-old wants to play for a Super Bowl contender later this year seemingly won't be going anywhere as winter turns to spring.