After 15 successful seasons Sean Payton has decided it's time to move on and will be leaving the New Orleans Saints organization. ESPN's Mike Triplett and NFL network were the first to report the news.
Ownership had been asked multiple times over the course of these last couple of days about Payton's desires and it seems like the heat of the media has forced them into an announcement. While it appears this is going to be a retirement announcement, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football stepping away from the game isn't necessarily a permanent move for Payton. Opening the door to a potential comeback to coaching down the road.
"More than my general manager, more than the person that hired me. More than all of those things... he's one of my best friends," - Sean Payton on Mickey Loomis ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/Zz33L2z6S5
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 25, 2022
The long-time Saints held coach is under contract through the 2024 season so if any other team would like him on their sideline, a trade would need to be facilitated. There's already been a ton of buzz about a TV gig as Amazon is getting into broadcasting in 2022 and apparently have Troy Aikman lined up to their roster, creating a gaping hole at Fox which Payton could potentially fill.
As per Caio Miari:
Payton established himself as one of the NFL's top sideline bosses after joining the Saints in 2006. The 58-year-old posted a 152-89 regular-season record over 15 seasons with New Orleans. He didn't coach in 2012 after being suspended for his involvement in the team's bounty scandal. The 2006 Coach of the Year, who was 9-8 in the postseason, also helped the Saints win their first Super Bowl title in the 2009 campaign. Injuries devastated New Orleans' 2021 season, forcing the team to start four different quarterbacks. The Saints finished the year 9-8, their fifth straight winning campaign.
Look for a formal announcement later this week from Payton and his family.
Photo credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
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