Patrick Sean Payton is an American professional football player who serves as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in the NFL. Payton's journey in football began as a player, but he has made his most significant impact as a coach. Before his coaching career, Payton played college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. His professional playing career was brief, including a stint with the Chicago Bears in 1987 and a season overseas with the Leicester Panthers in Britain in 1988.

Payton's coaching career started at the collegiate level. He worked as an offensive assistant at San Diego State University. From there, he held various assistant coaching positions in both college and NFL teams. These experiences prepared him for his most notable role to date. In 2006, Payton became the tenth full-time coach in the history of the New Orleans Saints. His tenure with the Saints was marked by remarkable success. Under his leadership, the team achieved its first Super Bowl championship in franchise history following the 2009 season.

During his 16 seasons with the Saints, Payton's impact was undeniable. He guided the team to three NFC Championship games in 2006, 2009, and 2018. The Saints made nine playoff appearances and won seven division titles under his guidance. These achievements solidified Payton's status as the most successful coach in Saints franchise history.

Sean Payton Personal Information

Sean Payton's Early Life, and Family Background

Sean Payton's story begins in San Mateo, California, where he was born. However, he spent most of his childhood in Naperville, Illinois. His parents, Thomas and Jeanne Payton, originally hailed from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Thomas worked in the insurance industry to support the family. Before settling in Illinois, Payton spent his grade school and middle school years in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. This period lasted from 1970 to 1978, shaping his early educational experiences.

Payton's high school years were spent at Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. It was here that his football journey truly began to take shape. In his senior year, Payton earned the starting quarterback position. He graduated from Naperville Central in 1982, ready to take the next step in his football career.

Payton's talent on the field earned him a football scholarship to Eastern Illinois University. At Eastern Illinois, he played under coach Al Molde. During this time, Payton's team gained a reputation for their impressive passing game. They were nicknamed "Eastern Airlines" due to their ability to rack up passing yards.

The team's passing attack was truly remarkable, often exceeding 300 yards per game. In one particularly memorable game, they achieved 509 passing yards. This feat still stands as a school record, highlighting the potency of their offensive strategy. Payton's college career at Eastern Illinois was more than just about impressive statistics. It laid the foundation for his future in football. The experience he gained as a quarterback, combined with the strategic insights from Coach Molde, would prove invaluable in his future coaching career.

Sean Payton Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, the net worth of Sean Payton is $35 million as of September 2024.

Sean Payton's Contract and Salary

In the latter part of the 2023 season, there was widespread speculation about Sean Payton's future with the New Orleans Saints. Many believed his time with the team was coming to an end. However, these rumors were put to rest when Payton agreed to a significant contract extension. The details of this new agreement were reported by ESPN's Ed Werder, who cited an unnamed source for the information.

According to Werder's report, Payton agreed to a five-year contract extension. The total value of this new deal was reported to be slightly more than $45 million. This represented a substantial financial commitment from the Saints organization to their head coach. Prior to this new contract, Payton was already one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL.

Sean Payton's Coaching History

Philadelphia Eagles (1997-1998)

Sean Payton's NFL coaching career began with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he served as the quarterbacks coach from 1997 to 1998. During this time, he worked alongside offensive coordinator Jon Gruden and offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Under Payton's guidance, the Eagles' quarterbacks had an impressive season in 1997, passing for 4,009 yards.

However, Payton's tenure with the Eagles was short-lived. In 1998, Gruden and Callahan left for the Oakland Raiders, and Eagles head coach Ray Rhodes, along with Payton, were fired. The incoming head coach, Andy Reid, chose not to retain Payton on his staff.

New York Giants (1999-2002)

In 1999, Payton joined the New York Giants as their quarterbacks coach. His performance in this role led to a promotion to offensive coordinator in 2000. Payton's impact was immediately felt, as he helped guide the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV, representing the NFC.

During his time with the Giants, Payton became known for his intense dedication to his craft. There were reports of him locking himself in the stadium and sleeping on couches during off days to study plays, showcasing his commitment to improving the team's offense.

Dallas Cowboys (2003-2005)

Payton's next stop was with the Dallas Cowboys, where he joined Bill Parcells' staff in 2003 as an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. His impact on the Cowboys' offense was significant. Under his guidance, three different quarterbacks - Quincy Carter, Vinny Testaverde, and Drew Bledsoe - each achieved 3,000-yard passing seasons.

Payton's influence helped improve the Cowboys' passing offense dramatically, moving it from a 31st league ranking to 15th. He's also credited with being the primary advocate for signing undrafted free agent Tony Romo in 2003, a decision that would greatly benefit the Cowboys in the years to come.

Payton's success made him a sought-after assistant in the league. To retain him, the Cowboys gave him a pay raise in 2004, keeping him as their assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. In 2005, Parcells promoted him to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator, further recognizing his value to the team.

New Orleans Saints (2006-2021)

In 2006, Payton got his first opportunity as a head coach with the New Orleans Saints. He took over a team that had finished the previous season with a dismal 3-13 record in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Payton's impact was immediate. In his second season (2007), the Saints improved to a 7-9 record. But it was in 2009 that Payton truly made his mark, leading the Saints to their most successful season with a 13-3 record. The team went on to win their playoff games and reached the Super Bowl, marking a remarkable turnaround for the franchise.

In June 2010, Payton published a book titled "Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life," co-written with journalist Ellis Henican. This book chronicled his experiences with the Saints and the city of New Orleans.

Payton continued to achieve milestones with the Saints. On Christmas Eve 2016, he notched his 94th victory as the Saints' head coach, surpassing Jim E. Mora to become the winningest coach in franchise history.

The 2017 season saw the Saints return to winning form with an 11-5 record, their first winning season since 2013. They advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs after defeating the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round.

In 2018, Payton led the Saints to a 13-3 record, securing the top seed in the NFC. They reached the NFC Championship Game after eliminating the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round.

Denver Broncos (2023-Present)

On January 31, 2023, Payton reported that he had accepted the position of head coach for the Denver Broncos. He was officially hired three days later, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his coaching career.

Sean Payton's Playing Career

Chicago Bears (1987)

Despite going undrafted in the 1987 NFL draft, Payton's playing career began with a brief stint in the NFL. He was part of the Chicago Bears' squad of replacement players, known as the "Spare Bears," during the 1987 NFL players strike. In three games, Payton completed 8 of 23 passes for 79 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating was 27.3. Interestingly, his lone interception came against the New Orleans Saints, the team he would later lead to a Super Bowl victory as a coach.

Arena Football League (1987)

In the same year, Payton played quarterback for the Chicago Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators during the inaugural season of the Arena Football League. His rights were later sold for $1,000 to the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League, though it's unclear if he ever played for them.

Leicester Panthers (1988)

Payton's playing career took an international turn in 1988 when he joined the Leicester Panthers of the professional UK Budweiser National League. He secured the starting quarterback role and led the Panthers to an 8-5 regular season record. Under Payton's leadership, the team scored a touchdown on their first possession and reached the Quarterfinals of the BAFA National Leagues playoffs, ultimately losing to the London Olympians.

After this overseas experience, Payton returned to the United States to begin his coaching career, setting the stage for his future success in the NFL.

Sean Payton's Family

Sean Payton's personal life has been shaped by his career in football. He met his former wife, Beth Shuey, while coaching at Indiana State University. Beth, an Indiana State graduate, and Sean married and had two children together: daughter Meghan, born in 1997, and son Connor, born in 2000.

However, in June 2012, Sean and Beth filed for divorce. Their marriage officially ended in 2014, marking a significant change in Payton's personal life during his tenure with the Saints.