The 2022 regular season is in its final weeks and for some teams the offseason is already top of mind. These next few weeks could mean changes to their coaching staff as they try to change the fortunes of their franchise. Could Sean Payton be back into coaching in 2023?
The Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers have already started that process by firing their head coaches during the season. There certainly will be a few more teams who will want to make changes and will be joining the Colts and the Panthers.
Sean Payton should be at the top of a number of teams’ lists if they are looking for a head coach
One coach that should be at the top of most teams’ lists is Sean Payton, who was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021. During that stretch, he had a record of 152-89 with nine playoff appearances and won the Super Bowl once in 2009.
While he is out of football, there would be some hurdles for teams to make Sean Payton their next head coach. He is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints so a trade would have to be worked out if he were to coach for another team in 2023.
A head coach of Sean Payton’s caliber would likely have a number of teams pursuing him this offseason and the decision may ultimately lie with Payton. With that in mind, these are four teams that he should be interested in coaching in 2023.
Los Angeles Rams
According to Ian Rapoport, the two Los Angeles teams (Rams and Chargers) are two that would be at the top of Sean Payton’s list. The question is whether or not either team is going to be looking for a new head coach.
For the Rams, the decision seems to lie with their current head coach Sean McVay who once again has rumors about his potential retirement. Last month, Albert Breer was on The Rich Eisen Show and mentioned that McVay’s time with the Rams could be tied to his core group of players (Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey).
The question for Payton is if McVay retires, which also means the departure of that core, would he be interested in taking over a team without its key players and not many first-round draft picks in the future? While the location may be favorable, this is probably a team further down his list.
Los Angeles Chargers
The other LA team is probably the one that could be a more appealing landing spot for Sean Payton. The reason being is that the roster is a little more established and already has the answer at the most important position with Justin Herbert at quarterback.
The Chargers are a team that has probably underperformed the past few years when considering the talent they have. In addition to Herbert, the Chargers have Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams on offense with Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, and Derwin James on defense.
However, have hovered around .500 the two years under Brandon Staley after finishing 9-8 last year and currently 8-6 this year.
If the Chargers decide they want to make a switch, this is a team that Sean Payton probably could turn around quickly and get them over that hump to being a playoff team.
Dallas Cowboys
The next team is another one that has an established roster and one that probably has not performed to that level in the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy is in his third season as head coach of the Cowboys and after a 6-10 season has had back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins.
However, last year with a 12-5 record they lost a home playoff game to the San Francisco 49ers and likely will be only a Wild Card team this year with the Philadelphia Eagles leading the NFC East. If the Cowboys have another early exit from the playoffs, it would not be surprising to see Jerry Jones elect to make a change at head coach.
Sean Payton has a history with Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys as he was with the Cowboys from 2003 to 2005 as their quarterback coach. The Cowboys this year have shown they have one of the best defenses in the league and have an established quarterback in Dak Prescott.
Similar to the Chargers, they need a coach to help get them to that next level and Jerry Jones has shown he is not concerned about making a big move in hopes of winning a Super Bowl.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos made a change at head coach last offseason when they named Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach after he was offensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers. However, the Broncos have been one of the most disappointing teams this season and while it is rare for teams to make changes at head coach after one season, this is one situation it is hard to blame the team for making a move.
The Broncos are similar to the Cowboys in that they have one of the best defenses in the league and do have an established quarterback in Russell Wilson. However, there are questions about Russell Wilson this season and whether or not he can be a top-tier quarterback in his first season outside of Seattle.
If Sean Payton believes he can win with Wilson, the Denver Broncos would be a great spot for him to continue his coaching career because of those pieces the team has with that tough defense and playmakers like Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and a returning Javonte Williams.
New Orleans Saints
The final team that Sean Payton should consider to continue his coaching career is the team he just left last year in the New Orleans Saints.
There is an established relationship between the front office and ownership and this is a key part of a head coach being successful. There needs to be a shared vision between these parts of the franchise because it is the front office’s responsibility to get the players that fit the scheme the head coach wants to run.
For most of his time with New Orleans, the front office has been able to do that and it showed with the success the Saints have had. However, if Payton were to return the Saints would have to sell him on a plan they have at quarterback because it seems unlikely that Sean Payton would want to return with a combination of Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton at quarterback.
If Sean Payton was to return to New Orleans, the one advantage they have over the other teams is that a trade would not need to be worked out as he is technically still under contract with the Saints. However, the quarterback piece is something that would likely need to be established before Sean Payton considers returning.