Talk about changes with coaches and players is inevitable at the end of every season. For the teams like the Saints, whose season ended when the 49ers beat the Rams in the final regular season game, the new buzz that head coach Sean Payton may not be the coach of the Saints next season should be taken seriously.
My hope is that Payton honors the couple of years left on his contract, but there is reason to believe that the temptation to leave coaching for the broadcast booth may have merit. As a Saints fan, I want Payton to stay; but as someone who is in the media, I understand why this might be a tempting movement to move on to a new career.
Ian Rapoport with NFL Network reported Sunday that Sean Payton has not yet committed to coaching the Saints next season and that FOX Sports is looking at Payton as a replacement for Troy Aikman, who appears ready to move onto Amazon, the company that will begin carrying Thursday Night Football in the upcoming 2022 season. Fox Sports will need a team in the booth to call the games.
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Sean Payton became coach of the Saints in 2006, and in the 2009-2010 season the Saints beat the Colts to win the Super Bowl. Sean Payton, along with Drew Brees, set a new standard for excellence in New Orleans.
For 16 years, Sean Payton has faith and hope to Saints fans everywhere. There were a series of years when the Saints did not do well, but Payton was still seen as the best coach to lead the team. Payton is the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL behind only New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who became head coach of the Pats in 2000.
Coaching changes have already begun for some of the teams that finished poorly this season, and there has been some talk that Payton might consider leaving the Saints for a new challenge in a bigger market. But an assessment of the current landscape of the NFL and the media suggests Payton might get an offer he can’t refuse from FOX Sports or one of the other TV networks.
Sean Payton is not only an extremely successful head coach, but he has a personality to deliver his unique perspective on the game. Drew Brees retired and was immediately grabbed by NBC to be part of the Sunday Night Football broadcast team. Brees has also been in the booth to do color commentary for NFL and college games.
As a broadcast veteran for many years, I wrote in a recent blog that I think Brees is doing an excellent job in his new career and should only get better. There is no doubt that if given the opportunity, Sean Payton could make a very successful transition to the media.
The Saints have a very good team - but considering the competition currently in the NFL - I think it’s fair to say that the Saints are not necessarily on the verge of winning another Super Bowl. And then there are always the unknowns, like injuries or the pandemic. This past season was a particularly rough one for Payton and the Saints.
The money being offered to the top people in the media surpasses many coaches salaries, so a move to the media does not necessarily mean a cut in pay. In fact, it could mean a big raise without the day-to-day hassles and stress of being a head coach.
There is something else to consider about the timing right now. Talk about Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady retiring is valid, and they will both be prime candidates to take big media jobs when they do retire. There are only so many positions available for the top performers in the media, and I would not rule out the possibility that Payton might consider this the right time to secure a huge contract and gig in the media.
And I have no doubt that Drew Brees has had positive things to tell Payton about his new life in broadcasting.
My hope is that Payton returns as head coach of the Saints - but in the end the goal is to earn big bucks and remain relevant in the world that has been your life’s passion. Being in the media satisfies those desires.
However, I would not read too much into Payton not committing to coaching the Saints next season. Payton loves to toy with the media, and his reluctance to make a commitment about coaching the Saints next season could be his way of having fun with the media.
WWL NFL analyst Mike Detillier said “There is something to that report in the fact that the networks are interested in him. And wouldn’t you give that some thought?” But Detillier did say he doesn’t believe this is the year Payton will leave the Saints.
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The interesting lure right now may be the possibility that other top names may soon be available for those few coveted media jobs related to the NFL.