By Jordan Long
NFL training camps are opening up. Every team has the goal of winning the Super Bowl. Of course, only one team will be successful. Former Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton, is eyeing a return to an NFL sideline.
Payton was the Head Coach of the Saints from 2006 to 2011. For the 2012 season, he was suspended for his role in the Bounty Scandal. At the time, Saints’ defensive coordinator Gregg Williams would pay his defensive athletes to hurt opposing offensive players. This went on from 2009-2011. The NFL concluded that Sean Payton was part of the scheme and failed to stop it.
Following his suspension, Payton returned to the sidelines as Saint’ Head Coach in 2013 until 2021. He decided to step away from coaching on January 26th, 2022. Payton’s overall record with the Saints is 152-89, a winning percentage of .631. The Saints earned a playoff spot 9 times. They only won 1 Super Bowl under him, Super Bowl 44. New Orleans knocked off the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.
Payton would like to come back to coach again. There are three places to keep an eye on, the Dallas Cowboys, L.A. Chargers, and Miami Dolphins. The Cowboys make the most sense. The Head Coach right now is Mike McCarthy. He has been in Dallas for the past two seasons and has been under fire for his lack of making this team a Super Bowl contender. His overall record with the Cowboys is 18-15 with one playoff appearance which came last season. McCarthy could be on his last straw if the Cowboys don’t make it that far or miss the postseason altogether this season. His seat is only going to be hotter depending on how well the Cowboys do.
The other reason the Cowboys make sense if the Cowboys fire McCarthy is owner Jerry Jones’ relationship with Payton. Payton was part of the Cowboys organization from 2003 to 2005. He was the assistant Head Coach and quarterback’s coach under Bill Parcells.
The L.A. Chargers and Miami Dolphins at this point aren’t places that should consider Payton. The Chargers Head Coach is Brandon Staley. Staley enters his second season in the position. Last year, all the Chargers needed was to tie the Las Vegas Raiders to earn a Wild Card spot in week 18. If that happened, both teams would be in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the Chargers lost in overtime 35-32. They finished the season at 9-8.
The Chargers last earned a playoff spot in 2018. Staley needs to prove he can coach this team to the playoffs in the competitive AFC West. Even if he fails to do so this year, the Chargers are probably not going to let him go. He should earn one more year.
The Miami Dolphins just hired Mike McDaniel on February 6th, 2022. This is his first season. The Dolphins know results may not happen in the first year. It could take a few seasons for them to be a playoff team under McDaniel.
Payton knows these places may not even have a Head Coaching opening at the end of this season. There will be openings at the end of the 2022 regular season. The day after the regular season ends is nicknamed Black Monday. According to CBSsports.com, Payton said, “There’s no way to predict who that club might be. Usually, there are about six openings every year. If there’s a right fit somewhere, that ultimately will depend on several factors.”
Payton wants to be back on the sidelines. The tricky part about him coming back is the Saints still own his rights until 2024. If a team wants to hire him, they have to acquire him from the Saints. This is more than likely going to be draft picks. Of course, the NFL season needs to play out. Payton has the itch to come back but must wait for his next opportunity.
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