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New Orleans Saints HC Sean Payton leaves, marking the end of an era

By Sravan Gannavarapu

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints prior to the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Saints will now be looking for new leadership as head coach Sean Payton announces his leave from the team.

Bombshells can drop out of anywhere, and the New Orleans Saints dropped one with the announcement of head coach Sean Payton’s departure.

This is not a retirement. However, it does leave New Orleans in need of a head coach for the first time since 2006, when New Orleans hired Payton to take over a franchise that was just overcoming the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Payton’s hiring turned out to be very successful, as did the eventual signing of future Hall-Of-Famer Drew Brees. Together, both men helped shape a turnaround, guiding New Orleans to the NFC Championship in their first season together.

However, in 2009-10, New Orleans was blessed with an NFC Championship victory and a berth in Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts. Tracy Porter’s pick-six capped off a 31-17 victory and the first-ever World Championship for the Saints. Payton now leaves New Orleans with a 152-89 record, a 0.631 win pct, and a Lombardi trophy.

Sean Payton delivered great success to the New Orleans Saints, but times are changing

For all the good Payton did, you cannot ignore, however, the Bountygate scandal that took place under his stewardship, a scandal that caused him to be suspended for an entire season. It’s easy to point the finger at Gregg Williams, but as the head coach, Payton is still responsible for what happened.

Still, for a franchise that was synonymous with dysfunction, despair, and disappointment, Payton instilled a light that burned for 15+ years and reached its peak on a memorable night in Miami. New Orleans is in for a lengthy change after this.

With being projected to be well over $70 million over the cap, tough decisions will be looming, and it will be a difficult task to overcome. Payton did all he could and did win big games, but times are changing, and maybe, new blood might be needed for the franchise.

Sean Payton will forever be loved in New Orleans, and the memories of winning won’t be forgotten. But it’s time for a rebuild in the Big Easy. It might be a very long one.

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