Sean Payton’s Next Head Coaching Job Possibly Identified

“Having a good quarterback would be helpful, but that isn’t the No. 1 or No. 2 factor,” accoring to Jackson’s source. The source jokingly threw in that good golf courses may be the fourth requirement, as Payton is an avid golfer. “His work ethic and long hours would largely limit those opportunities to the off-season,” the source concluded.

North Texas checks all the boxes

Check, check, check and check for North Texas. Dallas reportedly tried to hire Payton back in 2019, but the price tag was too high – five 1st round picks. The New Orleans Saints have Payton under contract for the next three years. Payton reportedly retired from coaching after the 2021 seaon. But assuming Mike McCarthy can make it through this season, there would be only two years left. The price tag on Payton would be more palateable to Jones. It will have been four years since Dallas last tried to trade for Payton.

Let’s examine other factors involved here. Payton has  already coached at Dallas beginning in 2003, as the quarterbacks coach. He helped Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde and Drew Bledsoe achieve 3,000 passing yards in a seasons during his time.

In 2005, Jones promoted Payton to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator under Bill Parcells. He was also a primary factor in getting the team to sign undrafted free agent Tony Romo, who had a stellar career in Dallas.

Payton flew the coup in 2006

After three stops as an assistant coach, Payton was ready to try his hand at being a head man. The New Orleans Saints provided that opportunity in 2006 and Payton jumped at it. The city was still reeling from the wake of Hurricane Katrina one year earlier. That first year under Payton, the Saints were coming off a 3-13 record, second worst in the NFL. The Saints went 10-6 and made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. Payton won the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award for his rookie season.

Over the next two seasons, the Saints would play mediocre at best, finishing 7-9 and 8-8. But in 2009, Payton aggressively coached the Saints to their most successful regular season ever, a 13-3 mark. The Saints then marched through the playoffs and into Super Bowl XLIV. A key play in the game would be Tracy Porter intercepting a Peyton Manning pass and returning it for a touchdown. New Orleans won the game, 31-17, over the Indianapolis Colts for the team’s first Super Bowl trophy ever. Manning, the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, is a New Orleans native.

Over the next 10 years, New Orleans would finish 11-5 or better seven times. The Saints won the NFC South five times during that span, including four years in a row from 2017 to 2020. Legendary Saints quarterback Drew Brees retired after 2020 and the team limped home to a 9-8 record in 2021.

Payton stepped down after 2021.

Payton decided the time was right to leave the Saints after 16 years.  He posted a 161-97 record during that span and was the winningest coach in franchise history. For the 2022 season, Payton has signed a lucrative contract to be a studio analyst for Fox Sports. But most don’t think it will be a long-term position.

Several teams will be clamoring for Payton’s head coacging services for 2023. Three teams are reported to be at the top of Payton’s wish list, Miami Dolphons, Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. One month ago, the Dolphns offered Payton a 5-year $100 million contract, that would have made him the highest paid coach in NFL history. But he turned it down.

Factors in place for Dallas to win

The bright lights and high expectations in Tinseltown may be too much for Payton to take the Chargers’ job. That leaves Dallas as the clear frontrunner for his services. The weather is nice, the team is loaded with talent and hopefully by now, after 26 seasons in the mud, Jones will give up the player personnel role. Payton already has a house in Dallas and a strong working relationship with owner Jerry Jones and vice-president son Stephen Jones.

McCarthy could save his job by winning the Super Bowl this year, or possible even getting to the NFC Championship Game. Anything less than that, expect Sean Payton to come out of retirement and become the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.