Feb 6, 2023; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton speaks at the UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton nixes Russell Wilson’s personal coach in building

“Let Russ cook” became a popular phrase in the last few years of Russell Wilson’s time in Seattle. Wilson will have to get used to cooking with new coach Sean Payton’s staff in Denver.

Payton is putting the kibosh on Wilson having his own personal QB coach in the building, calling it “foreign.” Jake Heaps moved with Wilson to Denver from Seattle as part of Wilson’s performance team. But Heaps won’t be hanging out at UCHealth Training Center moving forward.

Payton made the comments Monday in a scrum with reporters after his introductory press conference.

“That’s foreign to me,” Payton said when asked about it. “That’s not gonna take place here. I’m unfamiliar with it but our staff will be here, our players will be here and that’ll be it.”

Wilson and his role in turning around the Broncos — as well as his own performance — was at the center of Payton’s introductory press conference.

“Obviously (last season) wasn’t the type he had wanted to have,” Payton said.

Wilson signed a seven-year, $296 million extension with the Broncos in September. But he went 4-11 as the starter, threw just 16 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, numbers that played a part in why Payton was introduced in the first place — the firing of Nathaniel Hackett.

“Here’s what I know: (Wilson is) a hard worker. I know he’s an extremely hard worker. That’s important and I think you take that skillset, he’s won a lot of games in Seattle,” Payton said.

“… Although it’s a much more visible position, it’s the same case and same goal for us with every player on this roster. What do they do well?” Payton added. “It’s easy to point out what players don’t do well. There’s certain coaches that tend to look at it that way. I kind of was taught early on, what is it they do well and let’s have him do those things.

“None of us want to be at a karaoke bar with a song we don’t know the words to,” Payton said. “So how do we get them comfortable and highlight their strengths. And that’s the process that’s going to begin right now as I’m learning about every one of these players, not just Russell.”

Payton acknowledged that he and Wilson spoke during the process.

“Yeah, he did, and when he called right away I thought, ‘Man, I’m the last person that needs to get in trouble with the league,” Payton said. “We chatted.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 25, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Sean Payton to earn $17M to $20M per year

The Denver Broncos are making Sean Payton one of the highest-paid coaches in NFL history with a contract worth somewhere between $17 million and $20 million per season, 9News and NBC Sports reported.

Payton will be introduced by the Broncos on Monday.

NBC Sports puts the price tag at $18 million per season on at least a five-year contract. Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams reportedly was the highest-paid NFL coach at $15 million to $18 million per season.

Payton, 59, was seeking a deal worth $20 million to $25 million, according to Pro Football Talk.

The Broncos and New Orleans Saints agreed to compensation last week that cleared the path for Payton to be hired by the Broncos. Denver traded a first-round pick in 2023 — No. 29 overall — and a second-round pick in 2024 for Payton and a third-round pick.

Payton took last season off after coaching New Orleans to a 152-89 record in 15 seasons. He guided the Saints to the 2009 season Super Bowl title.

Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots becomes the third-highest paid coach at with a reported $12.5 million per season. Seattle’s Pete Carroll ($11M) and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan ($9.5M) round out the top five, reportedly.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores watches from the sideline during the second quarter of the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Broncos to interview Brian Flores, Sean Desai for DC position

The Denver Broncos have requested to interview both Brian Flores and Sean Desai for their defensive coordinator position, the NFL Network reported Friday.

Ejiro Evero currently is the Broncos defensive coordinator, however he has interviewed for head coaching positions with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. He also has interviewed with the Broncos (Sean Payton), Carolina Panthers (Frank Reich) and Houston Texans (DeMeco Ryans), however those clubs have since filled that position.

Flores, 41, serves as the senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was fired by the Miami Dolphins as their head coach in January 2022.

Flores interviewed with Arizona last month for their head coaching position. He also interviewed for defensive coordinator positions with the Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

Flores jumped into the head-coaching cycle one year ago, but the outcome of the process with the New York Giants led to a lawsuit against the NFL.

Flores filed a lawsuit against the league and highlighted three teams — the Dolphins, Giants and Broncos — for racial discrimination in hiring practices. In Flores’ lawsuit, he alleges — among other claims — that Stephen Ross, owner of the Miami franchise, offered him a $100,000 bonus for each loss in an attempt to secure a top draft pick.

Flores shared a text from Bill Belichick that showed the New England Patriots coach mistakenly sent Flores a congratulatory message on getting the Giants’ head coaching job. The message was sent before Flores interviewed for the job and was intended instead for Brian Daboll, who ended up getting the position. That text message exchange is at the crux of Flores’ lawsuit.

Desai, 39, is the Seattle Seahawks associate head coach and defensive assistant.

Desai joined the Seahawks last year after working one season as the defensive coordinator with the Chicago Bears. He also served as the Bears’ defensive quality control coach (2013-18) and safeties coach (2019-20).

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; An Arizona Cardinals fan in the crowd holds a sign for Sean Payton during the game against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Sean Payton to interview with Cardinals

It’s another busy week for Sean Payton.

PHNX Sports and NFL Network reported Monday that the former New Orleans Saints coach will interview with the Arizona Cardinals this week.

Payton is interviewing with the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday.

He also is reportedly expected to travel to Denver later in the week in anticipation of a second interview with the Broncos, though reportedly no plans have been finalized.

On Jan. 16, Payton interviewed with the Houston Texans for their head coaching vacancy.

The Cardinals hired Monti Ossenfort as their new general manager last week. Now they’re looking for a replacement for the fired Kliff Kingsbury, who went 28-37 in four seasons as head coach. The Cardinals also interviewed Brian Flores last week.

Payton, 59, is the biggest name available in the coaching market, but he is still under contract with New Orleans after stepping aside as the Saints’ coach in January 2022 after 15 seasons. Payton said last week that the price for an NFL team to hire him in this cycle would likely be a mid- to late-first-round draft pick.

Payton had a 152-89 record with the Saints and led them to a win in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, the only championship in franchise history.

–Field Level Media

Jan 25, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton: Saints want mid-late first-rounder

Former New Orleans coach Sean Payton said Monday that the price for an NFL team to hire him in this cycle would likely be a mid-to-late first-round draft pick.

Payton made the comments on “The Herd” talk show with host Colin Cowherd on Monday.

“Mickey Loomis and I have talked already about it. I think ultimately the compensation for the Saints will be a mid or later first-round pick,” Payton said on the show.

Loomis. the Saints’ general manager, has informed teams what the compensation would be for Payton, whose contract with the Saints expires at the conclusion of the 2024 season. However, that compensation hadn’t been made public.

Payton, 59, stepped aside as head coach of the Saints last January after 15 seasons.

The Cardinals, Texans and Denver Broncos are teams who have all sought permission to speak with Payton about their respective head-coaching positions. Payton also told Cowherd that he’ll speak with Panthers owner David Tepper in Carolina later this week. Talks can’t begin with Payton until Tuesday.

Payton had a 152-89 record with the Saints and led them to a win in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, the only championship in franchise history.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton shakes hands with tight end Juwan Johnson (83) prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Broncos get Saints’ OK to interview Sean Payton

The New Orleans Saints have granted the Broncos permission to interview Sean Payton for the open head coaching job in Denver, ESPN first reported Saturday.

NFL Network also later confirmed the report.

The Broncos are seeking to replace Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired on Dec. 26 after going 4-11 in his first season on the job. The Broncos are 4-12 entering Sunday’s finale at home against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Payton, 59, stepped aside as head coach of the Saints in January after 15 seasons. Because his contract had not expired with the Saints, they would be due compensation from any team that advances to the contract negotiation stage with Payton.

ESPN said that by an NFL ruling, any team that wants to interview Payton in person cannot do so before Jan. 17. The Saints and Broncos do not need to agree on compensation for the coach before an interview takes place, per the report.

He had a 152-89 record with the Saints and led them to a win in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, the only championship in franchise history.

–Field Level Media

Jan 25, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Sean Payton assembling staff for planned NFL return

Sean Payton plans to be back on the sideline for an NFL team next season and has gone so far as to assemble the majority of his coaching staff.

According to ESPN and NFL Network, Payton is near the top of the list of candidates for multiple teams and is believed to be under strong consideration with the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts, and he’s loosely connected to potential openings with the Los Angeles Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.

The Panthers and Colts have interim coaches in place after making in-season changes.

In January, Payton stepped aside as head coach of the New Orleans Saints after 15 seasons. Because his contract had not expired with the Saints, they would be due compensation from any team that advances to the contract negotiation stage with Payton.

ESPN reported Payton has discussed the defensive coordinator job for his next staff with Vic Fangio, the ex-Denver Broncos head coach who was a highly respected defensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Colts, Panthers and Houston Texans.

When Payton, who turns 59 next week, left the Saints, he said at his farewell press conference he wasn’t using the word “retire.”

Speculation based on his previous term as Dallas Cowboys’ assistant coach paired Payton with known ally Jerry Jones, but the Cowboys are on a playoff course again. Barring a quick exit, Jones is expected to stick with Mike McCarthy as head coach.

He had a 152-89 record with the Saints and led the Saints to a win in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season, the only championship in franchise history.

–Field Level Media

Jan 25, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Payton interested in return to coaching for ‘right situation’

Sean Payton said he would return to coaching in the NFL next season should the right situation come along.

Payton’s recent comments on a NewOrleans.Football podcast came approximately eight months after he informed the Saints that he wouldn’t return to the organization following 15 seasons as its head coach. Payton currently is an analyst for FOX Sports.

“I really enjoy what I’m doing right now, more maybe than I thought,” Payton said. “If the right situation presented itself, I would definitely be interested. And there’s no utopia, if you will, when it comes to teams.

“If I felt like it was the right situation, I would have an interest in that. That all being said that could come in a year, that could come in two years. In the meantime, you do get immersed with what you’re currently doing, like you want to be good at it and not just doing it. I’ve kind of just been focused on that.”

Payton elaborated on what constitutes “the right situation,” citing having the proper working relationships with both ownership and the front office.

Payton, 58, compiled a 152-89 record in the regular season and a 9-8 mark in the playoffs. He was suspended for the 2012 season over his role in the “Bountygate” scandal. Payton led the Saints to the Super Bowl championship in the 2009 season.

–Field Level Media

Apr 28, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks at his phone on a time out during the first half of game six of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Dolphins planned to hook Sean Payton with $100M offer

Sean Payton might have had 100 million reasons to take his talents to South Beach.

The Sun-Sentinel reported Payton was offered a five-year, $100 million contract to coach the Dolphins, a whopping $20 million per season average that would have trumped the record $10 million annual benchmark set by Jon Gruden with the Raiders in 2018.

Payton announced he was retired “for now” in January and joined FOX Sports as an analyst.

“I don’t like the word retirement,” Payton said in January. “I still have a vision for doing things in football, and I’ll be honest with you, that might be coaching again at some point. I don’t think it’s this year … that’s not where my heart is right now. My plans are not to be coaching in 2022. And that’s just how I feel.”

Reports linked Payton and then-retired quarterback Tom Brady to Miami, but Brady came out of retirement to return to the Buccaneers.

Brady didn’t shoot down the report linking him to the Dolphins, saying, “I’ve had a lot of conversations with a lot of people.”

Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was named head coach in New Orleans.

The Dolphins hired 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to replace Brian Flores.

–Field Level Media

Jan 25, 2022; Metairie, LA, USA;  New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton speaks during a press conference at Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Sean Payton joins Fox Sports for 2022

Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will join Fox Sports as a studio analyst for the 2022 NFL season, Pro Football Talk reported Monday.

Payton has been linked to Fox since late April. He also reportedly was talking with Amazon about a role in their new “Thursday Night Football” programming.

It’s unclear what Payton’s exact role will be, but he will appear in studio on off days for Jimmy Johnson, per the PFT report.

The New York Post previously reported Payton was in negotiations to appear on both the network’s Sunday morning show as well as its pregame show.

Speculation is that Payton will do TV for one year before returning to the NFL as a head coach in 2023.

Payton stepped down as coach of the Saints in January after 15 seasons. He compiled a 152-89 record in 15 regular seasons and a 9-8 mark in the playoffs. He was suspended for the 2012 season over his role in the “Bountygate” scandal. Payton led the Saints to the Super Bowl championship in the 2009 season.

Payton said then he wasn’t retiring from coaching.

“I don’t like the word retirement,” Payton said in January. “I still have a vision for doing things in football, and I’ll be honest with you, that might be coaching again at some point. I don’t think it’s this year … that’s not where my heart is right now.”

The Saints promoted defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to replace Payton.

–Field Level Media