The Denver Broncos are on the verge of hiring Sean Payton as their new head coach, and are currently negotiating a trade with the New Orleans Saints.
Payton has been a wanted man in the NFL since stepping down as Saints HC in 2022, but will finally return with the Broncos. An agreement was reached with the franchise on Tuesday, but they're still finalising a trade deal with the Saints.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, as compensation the Saints will receive Denver’s 2023 first-round pick and next year’s second-round pick for Sean Payton and their 2024 third-round pick. Payton is set to work with Russell Wilson, and it's an exciting time for the Broncos.
There have been many trade saga's within the NFL already to kick-off 2023, but the chase for Payton has been right up there with one of biggest. But the Broncos have won the battle, securing the legendary coach for the 2023 season.
It was an underwhelming year for the Broncos, but with Payton as HC and a settled Wilson in quarterback, there's hope that their fortunes could change. Payton stepped down from his role with the Saints back in 2022, after 15 successful seasons over two spells.
Payton left the Saints with an overall regular-season record of 152-89 and a postseason mark of 9-8, including one Super Bowl victory. Payton also picked up the 2006 AP Coach of the Year award, but initially fell out of love with coaching.
When stepping down, Payton told reporters during a Tuesday news conference: "Honestly, as I sit here today, and this is OK, I don't know what's next. Look, I read the reports and I've not spoken to anyone from a media outlet relative to doing television or radio.
"Maybe that opportunity arises but every time I read something that says like, 'He's in line for this job,' I'll call my agent, Don [Yee], and I'll say, 'Don, did you hear something? 'Cause I've not heard anything.' And that's OK.
"I think I'd like to do that, I think I'd be pretty good at it. So, steppin' outside like in the cold weather today and be a little uncomfortable professionally or from a career standpoint is OK.
"I don't like the word 'retirement,' Mr. B [late owner Tom Benson] didn't like it either, he always said 'retirement's overrated.' We get sold this image of retirement by these investment groups on TV and golf courses and, so, yeah, I still have a vision for doing things in football and, I'll be honest with ya, that might be coaching again at some point.
"I don't think it's this year, I think maybe in the future but that's not where my heart is right now. It's not at all." But Payton has clearly enjoyed his rest, and is keen on returning to the NFL after all.
