Sean Payton enters his third season with the Denver Broncos after being named the 20th head coach in franchise history on Feb. 3, 2023, by Owner and CEO Greg Penner.
One of the winningest coaches and brightest offensive minds in NFL history, Payton enters his 18th season as a head coach after transforming the New Orleans Saints into a perennial contender for 15 seasons (2006-11, '13-21). Leading the Saints to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV in 2009, Payton has 179 career wins as a head coach (170 regular season, 9 playoffs), which is tied for the 17th-most in NFL history (5th among active HCs).
In his 27th NFL season with stops in Dallas (2003-05), the New York Giants (1999-2002) and Philadelphia (1997-98) as an assistant, Payton has 10 seasons with 10+wins and seven division titles as a head coach. With 36 years of overall coaching experience, Payton led the most prolific offensive stretch in NFL history with the Saints totaling the most touchdowns (807) for any 16-year period in league annals from 2006-21.
In 20 seasons as a head coach or coordinator in the NFL, Payton has directed offenses that have led the league in yards six times—including an NFL-record 7,474 yards in 2011—along with 10 Top-5 NFL rankings. His offenses have totaled 10 Top-5 NFL rankings in points, including leading the league twice in scoring and posting the fourth-highest point total in NFL history for a single season (547, 2011).
Payton's passing attacks, in particular, have been among the most dominant in NFL history with him leading five of the Top-13 most productive passing offenses for a single season in league annals. His 2011 Saints set an NFL single-season record with 5,347 passing yards that included the eighth-most passing touchdowns (46) for a year in league history.
Among head coach-quarterback duos in NFL history, only Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have totaled more wins than Payton and Drew Brees with the Saints (144 wins in New Orleans from 2006-2020). Under Payton, Brees led the NFL in passing yards a league record seven times while totaling the most 5,000-yard passing seasons (5) ever by a quarterback.
Payton helped Brees earn 11 Pro Bowls in New Orleans as one of 31 players he has coached across 13 positions to the Pro Bowl, totaling 74 individual all-star appearances during his head coaching career.
Since his arrival in 2023, Payton has led the Broncos to an 18-16 regular-season record as well as their first playoff appearance since 2015 after guiding the club to a 10-7 record in 2024. Denver's offense has also ranked in the Top-10 in interceptions (5th, 21), touchdown passes (9th, 58), total touchdowns (T-9th, 47) and points per game (10th, 25.0) in that span.
Payton's second season in Denver saw significant growth from one of the youngest teams in the NFL, leading the Broncos back to the postseason for the first time in nine years and their first winning season in eight seasons. He also oversaw a roster that blossomed into one of the best in the NFL, with five Associated Press All-Pro selections—the most by the club in 28 years—while also overseeing the development of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in cornerback Pat Surtain II.
Under Payton's leadership, Denver's offense came to life in 2024, ranking in the Top-10 in fourth-down percentage (5th, 68.2%), red zone percentage (7th, 62.5%) and points (10th, 25.0). Payton also oversaw the development of rookie quarterback Bo Nix in 2024, who recorded the second-most passing touchdowns by a rookie in league history (29) along with completing 376-of-567 passes for 3,775 yards (93.3 rtg.).
During Payton's first year in Denver, he returned the Broncos to playoff contention while leading one of the NFL's most-improved teams and re-establishing the team's winning culture. He led the Broncos to a 7-4 record in their final 11 games, including a five-game winning streak, while helping the club to a 5-1 record at Empower Field at Mile High in its final six home games.
Payton joined the Broncos following a record-setting 15 seasons in New Orleans highlighted by a 31-17 win in Super Bowl XLIV against the Colts following the 2009 season. The 2006 Associated Press Coach of the Year and two-time Maxwell Club NFL Coach of the Year ('06 and '09) in New Orleans, Payton finished his career in New Orleans as the winningest coach in franchise history (152-89 regular season, 9-8 playoffs).
Presiding over one of the NFL's most productive offenses, Payton helped the Saints lead the league in yards six times (2006, '08-09, '11, '14, '16) and registered the top scoring offense in back-to-back years from 2008-09. New Orleans produced a Top-10 scoring offense 12 times in a 15-year span from 2006-20 under Payton's leadership.
From 2006-21, Payton and the Saints led the league in passing attempts (9,719), completions (6,630), completion percentage (68.2), net passing yards (72,079), passing touchdowns (536), passer rating (100.2), passing first downs (3,688), third down conversions (1,517), third down percentage (45.5), touchdowns (854) and yards per game (392.4). New Orleans also ranked near the top of the league in total first downs (5,853, 2nd), rushing touchdowns (271, 2nd) and points per game (27.6, 2nd).
Payton coached 12 different players to a combined 15 Associated Press first-team All-Pro selections while in New Orleans, including guard Jahri Evans (3) and wide receiver Michael Thomas (2). Under his leadership, 26 players earned a total of 68 Pro Bowl selections with Brees (11), defensive end Cameron Jordan (7), Evans (5) and running back Alvin Kamara (5) garnering at least five Pro Bowl honors.
Playing 15 seasons in Payton's offense, Brees established himself as a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, completing 6,017-of-8,742 passes (68.8%) for 68,010 yards with 491 touchdowns and 190 interceptions (101.5 rtg). In that 15-year period, Brees ranked first in the NFL completions, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns while posting the fifth-highest passer rating in the league.
Brees passed for at least 4,000 yards in 12 seasons (2006-11; '12-17) while totaling more than 5,000 yards an NFL-record five times in Payton's offense. He was named the Sporting News Player of the Year in consecutive seasons (2008-09) and nabbed Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year honors twice (2008, '11).
In addition to winning Super Bowl XLIV, Payton's tenure in New Orleans was highlighted by winning four consecutive NFC South titles from 2017-20. The Saints were the only NFC South team—and third NFC franchise—since the divisional realignment in 2002 to capture four consecutive division titles.
New Orleans recorded at least 11 wins in each of those four seasons under Payton and totaled a 49-15 (.766) record during that time. The club capped the four-year run by going 12-4 in 2020 and clinching its fourth consecutive playoff berth for the first time in team history.
Despite missing Brees for five games due to injury, Payton coached the 2019 Saints to a 13-3 mark while setting the NFL record for fewest turnovers (8) in a single season. Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater started in place of Brees from Weeks 3-7 and passed for 1,205 yards on 115-of-165 passing (69.7%) with nine touchdowns and two interceptions (103.7 rtg).
From 2009-13, Payton led New Orleans to playoff appearances in four of the five seasons, including in three consecutive campaigns from 2009-11. He guided the Saints back to the postseason in 2013 after finishing the regular season with an 11-5 record and a perfect 8-0 mark at home for the second time in three years.
In 2011, the Saints' offense had an historic year by setting an NFL single-season record with 7,474 net yards along with 547 points, which marked the fourth-highest total all-time in league annals. Brees also set single-season NFL records for completions (468), completion percentage (71.2) and passing yards (5,476).
En route to a Super Bowl title in 2009, Payton guided New Orleans to a 13-3 record and its second NFC South title in four seasons. The 13 wins set a franchise record for most regular-season victories in a single season.
The Saints, who began the 2009 season on a 13-game winning streak, finished the year with the NFL's top-ranked offense for the second consecutive year. The defense produced the third-most interceptions (26) and returned a league-leading five picks for touchdowns.
Following a first-round bye, New Orleans averaged 35.6 points in postseason play and scored 30 or more points in all three games. The Saints scored a franchise-record 45 points against Arizona, defeating the Cardinals 45-14 in the divisional round.
After defeating Minnesota 31-28 in the NFC Championship Game, New Orleans went on to defeat Indianapolis 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV to earn its first-ever World Championship.
On Jan. 18, 2006, Payton was named the 14th head coach in Saints history. In his first season at the helm, Payton guided New Orleans to a 10-6 record and its first division title since 2000 to earn Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Before he joined the Saints, Payton spent three seasons (2003-05) as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys under Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Parcells.
Dallas amassed a 25-23 (.521) record during his three seasons there and made one postseason appearance. Payton coached three different starting quarterbacks during his tenure in Quincy Carter (2003), Vinny Testaverde (2004) and Drew Bledsoe (2005) while contributing to the development of future four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo.
Before his time with the Cowboys, Payton spent four seasons with the New York Giants as quarterbacks coach (1999) and offensive coordinator (2000-02). The Giants totaled a 36-28 (.563) record during Payton's four years, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV (2000) and two 10+win seasons.
Payton was part of a coaching staff that led the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000 following a 12-4 record in the regular season. The Giants defeated Philadelphia 20-10 in an NFC Divisional Playoff Game and earned a 41-0 win against Minnesota in the NFC Championship Game before losing to Baltimore 34-7 in Super Bowl XXXV.
Payton began his NFL coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, serving as quarterbacks coach for two seasons from 1997-98. He coached Koy Detmer, Bobby Hoying and Rodney Peete, who all appeared in double-digit games during those two seasons.
Before the NFL, Payton coached nine seasons at the collegiate level (1988-1996), working for four schools. His final two college stops were at the University of Illinois as quarterbacks coach in 1996 and at Miami University (Ohio) as offensive coordinator from 1994-95.
In his second stint at San Diego State (1992-93), Payton served as running backs coach and worked with Heisman Trophy runner up and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk. He spent the 1990 and 1991 seasons at Indiana State University, coaching running backs and wide receivers.
Payton began his coaching career in 1988 at San Diego State, where he served as an offensive assistant for the Aztecs for two seasons.
A three-time Associated Press All-American quarterback at Eastern Illinois University, Payton played professionally in 1987 following his four seasons at EIU from 1982-86. He had stints with the Chicago Bears, Chicago Bruins (Arena Football League) and Ottawa Rough Riders (Canadian Football League) that year before beginning his coaching year.
During his time at Eastern Illinois, Payton totaled 10,665 passing yards in his career that marked the third-best mark in NCAA Division-I history. He was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in 2000 and had his jersey retired during a ceremony in 2010.
Payton earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Eastern Illinois and received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater in 2013.
Born on Dec. 29, 1963, in San Mateo, Calif., Sean Payton is married to Skylene. He has one daughter, Meghan, and one son, Connor.
Head Coach 2006-11; '13-21
Offensive Coordinator 2012
Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks 2003-05
Offensive Coordinator 2000-02
Offensive Coordinator 1994-95
Offensive assistant 1988-89
Running backs/wide receivers 1990-91
