News broke on Tuesday afternoon (January 25) that Sean Payton, the long-time coach of the New Orleans Saints, would be stepping down.
Payton, who held the position for 16 seasons, isn’t retiring, but sources familiar with the situation say he’s could be taking a break from the profession and might potentially take his skills to the studio.
This announcement was surprising to some, and it comes on the heels of a 9-8 season in which the Saints missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Payton amassed a 152-89 record (63.1%) in his career in New Orleans, but missed the 2012 season as he was suspended for his role in the bounty scandal that embroiled the franchise.
That season spent away from the Saints is the subject of the upcoming Netflix movie, Home Team, which releases to the streaming platform Friday, January 28. Naturally, Twitter immediately had jokes about Kevin James (who is playing Payton in the movie), Payton, and more.
I would have retired the instant Kevin James was cast to play me in a movie, but credit Sean Payton for sticking out the season.
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) January 25, 2022
Get Kevin James on the phone immediately https://t.co/YxM7oyeW3X
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 25, 2022
Obviously that Kevin James movie broke Sean Payton. https://t.co/7Yp8K74Ldm
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) January 25, 2022
In protest of the Kevin James movie 🤔 https://t.co/jcwNBTizI3
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) January 25, 2022
you either retire a hero or you coach long enough to see yourself played by Kevin James in a Netflix movie
— Megan Schuster (@megschuster) January 25, 2022
The Kevin James era begins in New Orleans. https://t.co/5o9SzxW85s
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 25, 2022
Are they gonna have to re-do the ending of that Kevin James movie!? https://t.co/keHF4CpIei
— Alexis Chassen (@Lovelybuckeye) January 25, 2022
clearly stepping away before the kevin james movie unearths some real dirt. https://t.co/aQgYOvFwIj
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) January 25, 2022
It was the Kevin James casting, huh? https://t.co/ulzQ93SAMn
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) January 25, 2022
Kevin James played him in a movie and he felt as if he had nothing else left to accomplish https://t.co/83Fc1OFFJB
— fivepointsvids (@FivePointsVids) January 25, 2022
Once you're played by Kevin James in a movie, there's clearly no reason to keep coaching.
— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) January 25, 2022
clearly stepping away before the kevin james movie unearths some real dirt. https://t.co/aQgYOvFwIj
— Joshua Brisco (@jbbrisco) January 25, 2022
