NFL Rumors: Sean Payton Could Return to Coaching in 2023

The former New Orleans Saints head coach may have an eye on a quick return. Sean Payton shared in a discussion on the New Orleans Football podcast that he could be interested in a return to coaching as soon as next year:

Will Sean Payton coach in 2023? He joined me and @MikeTriplett to discuss his present, future and what he sees from the Saints on today's podcast.https://t.co/YptBk7Eckv pic.twitter.com/1sqJSodpFI
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) September 21, 2022

Payton was clear he wouldn't do it for just any situation, and the fact that he retired from the Saints in the first place indicates he probably isn't looking for a return to the only team he has served as head coach for. Rumors began swirling quickly after his retirement that he was angling for an eventual job with the Dallas Cowboys, but current head coach Mike McCarthy led the team to a top-ranked scoring offense and a playoff appearance in 2021, so it would take a pretty big collapse in 2022 for his position to come available. Payton had also been linked to the Miami Dolphins according to details that emerged following an investigation into the team's tampering with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.

Wherever he does end up, it will be interesting to see how Payton builds an offense from the ground up without future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. The two were linked at the hip from 2006 to 2020, leading an amazing 10 top five offenses and winning a Super Bowl in 2009. In his four years as an offensive coordinator or head coach without Brees, Payton's offenses have never ranked better than 15th in points scored. Maybe he's right to wait for "the right situation."
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