During the Denver Broncos‘ 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, coach Sean Payton broke out some reading glasses which quickly caught the attention of NFL fans.
“Did Sean Payton forget his glasses and stop at a 7/11 for a set of pink readers? 😂” one fan asked on Twitter/X.
Another fan chimed in: “After Week 12, I know the Broncos look a helluva lot better than Sean Payton’s glasses.”
The conversation continued with memes:
Does anyone else get these vibes from Sean Payton’s game glasses? pic.twitter.com/tkSC808dVC
— Kevin Shockey (@KevinShockey) November 25, 2024
This, of course, was not the first time Payton has been teased for his glasses. Here’s a sampling from earlier this year and last season:
Sean Payton’s glasses giving off big Meemaw vibes.
— Stephen Cohen (@scohenATH) September 8, 2024
Sean Payton’s old lady glasses are growing on me. They just get better every week.
— Nobody Important (@carmulo) November 26, 2023
I knew I had seen those Sean Payton glasses before! pic.twitter.com/F2nS3wzO27
— Jeremy Greene (@ESPNDraftNerd) October 18, 2024
Broncos HC Sean Payton doing his best George Constanza wearing ladies’ eye glasses tonight. pic.twitter.com/MM09w46lGc
— Bryan Munson (@BryanMunson_) November 14, 2023
Who wears the glasses better, Sean Payton or Papa Elf?. #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/l3ObUVNj0E
— Eric Rabbers (@ERuns) December 25, 2023
There’s been some positive feedback, too.
When Sean Payton put those glasses on, he’s bout to cook…😂😂😂😂
— Keesh (@Keeshwitzki) October 18, 2024
Once Sean Payton put the glasses on last night, it was over for the Bills pic.twitter.com/yiEuAIBy1G
— Denver Broncos 365 (@DailyBroncos) November 14, 2023
Sean Payton has always been fashion forward with glasses. It is one of his things and frankly it works. https://t.co/dlok5E9Esz
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) November 14, 2023
Payton underwent cataract surgeries in both eyes this offseason and he wore sunglasses this summer and early in the season. He noted at the end of the 2023 campaign that he wanted to correct his vision.
“I want to get my eyes fixed, so I call the right play and I don’t mess up and call the wrong play on a play that happened one time this year,” Payton said on Jan. 9. “That was embarrassing.”
Payton has since recovered from the offseason surgeries, but he still occasionally wears reading glasses on the sideline. Those glasses will be seen by a prime-time audience again when the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.