New Orleans Saints news broke today that Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton is stepping away from the team. Little information is available right now regarding the future of the head coaching position or Sean Payton’s next move. Will he continue coaching, or is this the end of the road for the New Orleans legend?
Sean Payton Legacy | Saints News
For most, Sean Payton’s time in New Orleans will be remembered fondly, highlighted by a Super Bowl XLIV victory over the favored Peyton Manning Colts.
Payton’s longtime tenure and partnership with Drew Brees started in 2006 and resulted in seven NFC South Division Titles. Payton earned Coach of the Year honors in his first year with New Orleans and owns a record of 152-89 as an NFL head coach.
Post-Drew Brees Era
In the year following Brees’s retirement, Payton led the Saints to a 9-8 record while dealing with a revolving door at QB, following a Jameis Winston injury.
He has also been on the receiving end of heavy questioning and ridicule due to his belief in “do-it-all” QB Taysom Hill and the 21+ million dollars in guarantees he gave him.
With the QB position unlikely to be solidified anytime soon, and superstar WR Michael Thomas most likely on the move, it seems that Payton assessed the situation and decided he did not want to be part of a rebuild after 16 seasons in New Orleans. Of course, this doesn’t begin to mention the salary cap gymnastics the team must do next season to even field a team.
The Saints are expected to start conducting the search for their new coach immediately. Candidates such as their defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and Lions DC Aaron Glenn will be included, among others.
