According to Ian Rapoport, Saints HC Sean Payton has not committed to the team that he’s coming back to coach in 2022.
In fact, he has been on vacation for more than a week, and has reportedly “gone dark” on several people who are close to him. It’s thought maybe Payton would take a year off from coaching in 2022, but sources told NFL Media that if Payton did step away for a season, he would likely return to coach with a different team.
The New Orleans Saints are coming off of a tough season, as they went 9-8 and failed to win the NFC South for the first time since 2016. It was the first year without Drew Brees, and while the Saints went 5-2 with Jameis Winston, he would suffer an ACL injury in Week 8 that would end his season.
Payton has three years remaining on his contract, and he would reportedly be walking away from over $45 million if he does indeed walk away from the team.
Not helping matters is New Orleans being projected to be more than $74 million over the cap. Taysom Hill signed another extension, and they also need to make a decision on Jameis Winston, who is also looking for a new deal.
It’s early in the offseason, but it sounds like no one knows what Payton is going to do.
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For his career, Payton has led the Saints to a record of 152-89, which includes nine playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title in 2009.
