If they were willing to make a coaching change, a different AFC team could have had future Hall of Famer Sean Payton all to themselves.
After a one-year hiatus from coaching, the former New Orleans’ Saints head coach agreed to join the Denver Broncos, who had fired HC Nathaniel Hackett late in the 2022 campaign. Denver acquired Payton and New Orleans’ 2024 third-round pick in exchange for a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 second-round pick.
Speaking on Friday’s edition of “The Pat McAfee Show”, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith reported that Payton was actually hoping to become the new head coach of the Broncos’ AFC East rivals, the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Don’t let Sean Payton tell you that he wanted the Broncos job, he wanted that damn (Chargers) job,” Smith said. “But for some reason, ownership didn’t wanna make a change.”
Many called for the Bolts to fire head coach Brandon Staley after they blew a 27-0 lead to Trevor Lawrence’s Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card Round. However, Dean Spanos and company decided to give the ex-Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator another chance.
Payton is widely regarded as one of the all-time great offensive-minded head coaches, and he could have absolutely done wonders with Justin Herbert, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler in La La Land. Instead, he came to Mile High City with the task of helping Russell Wilson regain his star-like form after a miserable 2022 campaign.
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The Broncos got off to a rough start with a 17-16 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1, but we’ll see if they can rebound when they host the Washington Commanders this Sunday.
