Sean Payton: Denver Broncos Head Coach Candidate
By Tylor Walden
Despite still being under contract with the New Orleans Saints, I give my reasoning as to why the Denver Broncos should trade for Saints Head Coach Sean Payton.
For only the second time in three offseason’s, the Denver Broncos will be looking for a brand new coach to run the team.
After it seemed like John Fox and the coaching staff gave up on the 2014 season, he and the rest of the staff were sent packing. Enter Gary Kubiak, who would lead the team to a Super Bowl 50 Championship.
Now, Kubiak has decided to step down and retire from coaching, citing his health. Which is completely understandable. But now the team is one year removed from a championship appearance once again looking for a head coach the following year.
With emerging coordinators head lining the run towards the next man to lead the team, there is a very slight, but intriguing opportunity that could become a dark horse candidate.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has become one of the more successful head coaches in the NFL today.
He led a franchise that has struggled for quite some time and took over the team in 2006. In just three years, he would lead the Saints to their first Super Bowl win.
However, the success has dwindled a bit. Since their last playoff appearance in 2013, the Saints have dealt with three straight 7-9 seasons.
Of course, there is always the instance of the 2012 campaign, when Sean Payton was suspended for the year due to the Bounty Gate scandal.
Despite the latest fall from grace since the Super Bowl win, Sean Payton could be a solid candidate for the Denver Broncos when you think of it in these ways…
Veteran Status
Since John Elway became involved with the front office after the 2011 season, he has gone after veterans John Fox and Gary Kubiak. Under both head coaches, the team found success with five playoff appearances and two Super Bowl trips.
Not to mention, this is a young team. Having a coach who has been in the league for a while could really help them out.
Sean Payton has been there and done that as far as championship appearances and Super Bowl titles. If there is one man out there that can get this team back to the playoffs, it is him.
Offensive Skills
If Wade Phillips returns to the Denver Broncos, Sean Payton would just need to focus in on the offense, which had a historically bad season.
Having a defense that can shut down opponents at any time is the goal to a championship. But the Broncos need their offensive fire power back.
I’m not expecting Star Wars numbers, but definitely more than the teens and low 20s that were a common theme. Especially towards the end of the season.
Having both Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch learning from him would be great as well. Payton was formally a quarterback’s coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Dallas Cowboys.
He can also fix up that offensive line, which struggled a lot during the season.
The Only Issue…
Sean Payton is currently under contract with the New Orleans Saints, like I mentioned before.
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But I think with the right trade, (remember, Denver has a lot of draft picks in this year’s draft) the Saints could at least be willing to listen to an offer.
Plus, having Sean Payton with a championship caliber defense would be something worth looking into for him as well. All he would need to do is bring Wade Phillips back and focus on the offense.
I honestly believe it’s a very long shot, but if this move does happen, I would be alright with it. Having a veteran presence on the sideline would benefit this young team really well.
But let us see what happens. This is why I believe Sean Payton would be a solid fit here in Denver.