Sean Payton believes he'll coach again 'if there's a right fit somewhere'

Soon after head coach Sean Payton stepped away from the New Orleans Saints following the 2021 NFL regular season, he openly admitted he didn't believe he was "finished coaching" for good. Payton later accepted a gig with Fox Sports as a studio analyst for the upcoming campaign but was recently linked with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins, among other teams, in a Miami Herald story (h/t Pro Football Talk).

Payton's contract with the Saints runs through 2024, meaning any team that wants to land his services would have to first send his former employer compensation. Even still, the 58-year-old suggested to Jarrett Bell of USA Today that he could be back on the sidelines by the time 2023 springtime workouts begin. 

"Ultimately, do I think I’ll get back in? Sure," Payton remarked during that conversation. "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." 

As for a next coaching opportunity, Payton added: "We’ll deal with it when the time comes." 

As PFT's Mike Florio explained, Payton's words unofficially make him available for the winter months and could cause some owners to consider firing coaches as soon as December so they can pursue the one-time Super Bowl champion head coach sooner than later.