Sean Payton’s break from coaching is set to come to an end with the Broncos.
The Broncos and Payton are closing in on a deal that will make him the team’s next head coach. The Broncos are expected to send a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick to New Orleans for the rights to hire Payton as well as a 2024 third-round pick.
While nothing has been made official yet, Payton isn’t waiting to share what drew him to make his return to the sideline in Denver. His comments included a note about the team’s owners, which may have been included to further dispel a report that there was a disconnect during Payton’s earlier conversations with the team.
“Great fanbase. Great tradition,” Payton said, via Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “The ownership group is fantastic, and I love the way they competed last year. It’s a great football city like we had in New Orleans.”
Payton went 152-89 over 15 seasons with the Saints and went 9-8 with a Super Bowl win in the postseason. After seven straight years out of the playoffs, the Broncos are betting that he can bring the same kid of success to Denver.