Sean Payton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sean Payton

Payton with the New Orleans Saints in 2021
Denver Broncos
Position:	Head coach
Personal information
Born:	(1963-12-29) December 29, 1963 (age 61) San Mateo, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:	Naperville Central (Naperville, Illinois)
College:	Eastern Illinois (1983–1986)
Undrafted:	1987
Career history
As player:
Chicago Bruisers (1987) Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987) Ottawa Rough Riders (1987) Chicago Bears (1987) Leicester Panthers (1988)
As coach:
San Diego State (1988–1989) Offensive assistant Indiana State (1990–1991) Running backs & wide receivers coach San Diego State (1992–1993) Running backs coach Miami (OH) (1994–1995) Quarterbacks coach Illinois (1996) Quarterbacks coach Philadelphia Eagles (1997) Quarterbacks coach New York Giants (1999) Quarterbacks coach New York Giants (2000) Offensive coordinator Dallas Cowboys (2003) Assistant head coach & quarterbacks coach New Orleans Saints (2006, 2013) Head coach Liberty Christian (TX) (2012) Offensive coordinator Denver Broncos (2023–present) Head coach
Career highlights and awards
As a player Eastern Illinois Panthers No. 18 retired Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame As a coach Super Bowl champion (XLIV) AP Coach of the Year (2006) 2× Greasy Neale Award (2006, 2009)
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 23 Passing completions: 8 Completion percentage: 34.8% TD–INT: 0–1 Passing yards: 79 Passer rating: 27.3 Rushing yards: 28
Career Arena statistics
Passing attempts: 14 Passing completions: 5 Completion percentage: 35.7% TD–INT: 0–3 Passing yards: 47
Head coaching record
Regular season:	170–105 (.618)
Postseason:	9–9 (.500)
Career:	179–114 (.611)
Player stats at PFR
Coaching stats at PFR
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Patrick Sean Payton (born December 29, 1963) is a well-known American football coach. He used to play as a quarterback. Currently, he is the head coach for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the Broncos, he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021. He led the Saints to their first ever Super Bowl win in the 2009 season.

Payton played college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers. He also played professionally in 1987 for the Chicago Bears and in 1988 for the Leicester Panthers in Britain. He started his coaching career as an assistant at San Diego State University. He held several assistant coaching jobs in college and the NFL. In 2006, he became the tenth full-time head coach for the Saints.

Sean Payton is famous for his strong offensive strategies. His teams have often scored many points and gained lots of yards. He led the Saints to the 2006 NFL playoffs after they had a tough 3–13 season in 2005. They even reached their first NFC Championship game. For this great effort, Payton won the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award. He is the most successful coach in Saints history. He led them to three NFC Championship games and nine playoff appearances.

In April 2012, Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 NFL season. This was due to a situation where some players were rewarded for aggressive hits on opposing players. Payton later admitted he knew about some of these discussions. He appealed the suspension but it was upheld. He was allowed to return to coaching in January 2013. In the 2024 season, the Broncos made the playoffs under Payton's leadership.

Early Life and College Years

Sean Payton was born in San Mateo, California. He grew up in Naperville, Illinois. His parents, Thomas and Jeanne Payton, were from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Thomas worked in the insurance business. Sean lived in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, during his elementary and middle school years.

He went to Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. He was the starting quarterback in his senior year and graduated in 1982. Payton earned a football scholarship to Eastern Illinois University. He had a successful career as a quarterback there. In 1986, he led the Panthers to an 11–2 record. They reached the quarter-finals of the Division I-AA Playoffs. While at EIU, he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was later given the "Significant Sig" honor, which is one of the fraternity's highest awards.

Under coach Al Molde, Payton's Eastern Illinois teams were known for their strong passing game. They often gained over 300 yards per game through passing. In one game, they even had 509 passing yards, which is still a school record.

Playing Career Highlights

Sean Payton was not chosen in the 1987 NFL draft. However, he did try out for the Kansas City Chiefs for one day. In 1987, he played quarterback for two teams in the first season of the Arena Football League: the Chicago Bruisers and the Pittsburgh Gladiators. Later, his rights were sold to the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.

He also played for the Chicago Bears during the 1987 NFL players strike. These players were called the "Spare Bears." In three games, he completed 8 out of 23 passes for 79 yards. He had no touchdowns and one interception. His one interception happened against the New Orleans Saints. This is the team he would later coach to a Super Bowl victory.

In 1988, Payton played for the Leicester Panthers in the UK Budweiser National League. He became the starting quarterback for the Panthers. He led them to a touchdown on their first play. The team finished the regular season with an 8–5 record. They reached the Quarterfinals of the playoffs but lost to the London Olympians. After this, Payton returned to the US to start his coaching career.

Coaching Journey

Starting as an Assistant Coach

Sean Payton began his coaching career in 1988. He was an offensive assistant at San Diego State University. He then held several assistant coaching jobs:

• Indiana State University
• Miami University (as offensive coordinator)
• Illinois
• Again at San Diego State (as running backs coach)

In 1997, he got a job as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. While at San Diego State, he coached future NFL star Marshall Faulk from 1992 to 1993. As offensive coordinator at Miami University, he helped running back Deland McCullough gain over 1,100 yards. In 1995, his team scored the most points in a season since 1986.

Time with the Philadelphia Eagles

From 1997 to 1998, Payton was the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He worked with offensive coordinator Jon Gruden. In 1998, Gruden left for another team. Eagles head coach Ray Rhodes and Payton were then let go. The Eagles' quarterbacks passed for 4,009 yards in 1997.

Working with the New York Giants

In 1999, Payton became the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants. In 2000, he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Giants reached Super Bowl XXXV. During this time, he was known for working very hard. He would sometimes stay at the stadium and sleep on couches while studying plays.

On September 11, 2001, the Giants' flight landed at Newark Liberty International Airport. It was next to United Airlines Flight 93, which was later hijacked. Payton wrote about this moment in his book. In the 2002 season, the Giants' offense struggled. Head coach Jim Fassel took over play-calling duties from Payton. The offense then improved, helping the team reach the playoffs.

Dallas Cowboys Experience

Payton joined Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys in 2003. He was an assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He helped three different quarterbacks throw for over 3,000 yards in a season. He also helped improve the team's passing offense. Many believe he was key in signing Tony Romo in 2003, who became a star quarterback.

In 2004, other teams wanted to hire Payton. The Cowboys gave him a pay raise to keep him. In 2005, he was promoted to assistant head coach and passing game coordinator.

Leading the New Orleans Saints (2006–2011)

Payton with the Lombardi Trophy after the Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV

Sean Payton became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006. The team had a very tough 2005 season with only 3 wins and 13 losses. This was after Hurricane Katrina hit the area. But Payton turned the team around quickly. With new quarterback Drew Brees, they made the playoffs in his first year. Their offense was one of the best in the league.

The Saints won their division with a 10–6 record. They earned a first-round playoff break. They also won only their second playoff game in team history. This led them to the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears. Even though the Saints gained more yards, they lost the game 39–14. In January 2007, Payton won the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award.

In the 2007 season, the Saints finished with a 7–9 record. In 2009, Payton led the Saints to their most successful season ever with a 13–3 record. They won their playoff games and reached the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XLIV, Tracy Porter made a key interception in the fourth quarter. This helped the Saints win 31–17 against the Indianapolis Colts. It was the team's first Super Bowl championship.

In June 2010, Payton released a book called Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life. It became a bestseller. On October 16, 2011, Payton was coaching against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He broke his leg and tore a knee ligament in a sideline collision. He coached from the booth while recovering.

Suspension and Return

On March 2, 2012, the NFL announced that the Saints had a program from 2009 to 2011. This program rewarded players for very aggressive hits on opposing players. The league found that Payton was involved. They believed he tried to cover it up when the league first investigated.

On March 22, 2012, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Payton for the entire 2012 season. This was a big deal because he was the first head coach in modern NFL history to be suspended. Goodell was upset that Payton and others had not been fully truthful. Payton appealed the suspension, but it was denied on April 9. He was not allowed to have any contact with anyone in the NFL during his suspension.

During his 2012 suspension, Payton coached his son Connor's sixth-grade football team in Argyle, Texas. He used a simpler version of the Saints' plays. His team was undefeated until a loss near the end of the season. He even got help from his mentor, Bill Parcells, to prepare for a rematch in the playoffs.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Payton on January 22, 2013.

Back with the Saints (2013–2021)

Payton signed a new contract to continue as the Saints' head coach starting in 2013. In the 2013 season, he led the team to an 11–5 record. They won a playoff game against the Eagles but lost to the Seahawks. The Saints had 7–9 records in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons. On January 6, 2016, he confirmed he would stay with the Saints despite interest from other teams.

Payton signed another five-year contract extension on March 23, 2016. On Christmas Eve 2016, he earned his 94th win as Saints head coach. This made him the winningest coach in franchise history, passing Jim E. Mora. The Saints finished 7–9 for the third year in a row in 2016.

The 2017 season was better, with an 11–5 record. They won their wild-card playoff game against the Carolina Panthers. They then played the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round. The Saints came back from a big deficit to lead late in the game. But on the very last play, the Vikings scored a touchdown, winning 29–24. This play became known as the Minneapolis Miracle.

In the 2018 season, the Saints had a 13–3 record, the best in their conference. They beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs. They then played the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game. The game had a controversial moment when a clear penalty was missed by the referees. The Saints lost 26–23 in overtime. Many people believe the missed call was one of the worst in NFL history.

On September 15, 2019, Payton signed a five-year contract extension. The Saints again finished 13–3 in 2019. However, they lost in overtime to the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card playoff round. This was another tough playoff loss for the team.

Payton was fined $100,000 by the NFL in 2020 for not wearing a face mask properly during a game. In the 2020 season, Payton led the Saints to a 12–4 record and a division title.

After the 2021 NFL season, where the Saints went 9–8 and missed the playoffs, Payton announced he was stepping down as head coach. This was after 16 years with the team. He finished his time in New Orleans with a total record of 161 wins and 97 losses. He remains the winningest coach in Saints history.

Initial Retirement and Return to Coaching

After the 2021 season, Payton announced his retirement from coaching in January 2022. During his time away from coaching, Payton joined Fox to work as an analyst on the Fox NFL Sunday panel in 2022.

In January 2023, Payton interviewed for head coach openings with several NFL teams.

Coaching the Denver Broncos

On January 31, 2023, Sean Payton announced he had accepted the head coach position for the Denver Broncos. He was officially hired three days later. To get Payton from the Saints, the Broncos traded a 2023 first-round draft pick and a 2024 second-round pick to New Orleans. In return, the Saints sent Payton and a 2024 third-round pick to the Broncos. The 2023 season ended with some changes at quarterback.

In Week 7 of the 2024 season, Payton and the Broncos played against his former team, the Saints. The Broncos won 33–10. With this win, Payton became only the eighth head coach in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams in the league.

In Week 18, the Broncos, with Payton as head coach, earned their first playoff spot since the 2015 season. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 38–0. This also marked the team's first winning season since 2016. In the Wild Card Round, the Broncos lost to the Buffalo Bills 31–7.

Head Coaching Record

Coaching Connections

Sean Payton has worked under eight head coaches during his career:

• Denny Stolz, San Diego State (1988)
• Al Luginbill, San Diego State (1989, 1992–1993)
• Dennis Raetz, Indiana State (1990–1991)
• Randy Walker, Miami (OH) (1994–1995)
• Lou Tepper, Illinois (1996)
• Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia Eagles (1997–1998)
• Jim Fassel, New York Giants (1999–2002)
• Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys (2003–2005)

Thirteen of Payton's assistant coaches later became head coaches in the NFL or NCAA:

• Doug Marrone, Syracuse (2009–2012), Buffalo Bills (2013–2014), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016, interim, 2017–2020)
• Curtis Johnson, Tulane (2012–2015)
• Dennis Allen, Oakland Raiders (2012–2014), New Orleans Saints (2022–2024)
• Aaron Kromer, New Orleans Saints (2012, interim)
• Joe Vitt, New Orleans Saints (2012, interim)
• Marc Trestman, Chicago Bears (2013–2014)
• Ed Orgeron, USC (2013, interim), LSU (2016–2021)
• John Bonamego, Central Michigan (2015–2018)
• Mike Neu, Ball State (2016–2024)
• Steve Spagnuolo, New York Giants (2017, interim)
• Gregg Williams, Cleveland Browns (2018, interim)
• Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions (2021–present)
• Aaron Glenn, New York Jets (2025–present)

Three of Payton's executives became general managers in the NFL:

• Ryan Pace, Chicago Bears (2015–2021)
• Terry Fontenot, Atlanta Falcons (2021–present)
• Darren Mougey, New York Jets (2025–present)

Personal Life

Sean Payton met Beth Shuey while coaching at Indiana State University. They had two children, a daughter named Meghan (born 1997) and a son named Connor (born 2000). Payton is Irish Catholic.

When he became the Saints' head coach, Payton and his family moved to Mandeville, Louisiana. Their home, like many built after Hurricane Katrina, had issues with defective Chinese drywall. Payton was part of a lawsuit against the company that made the drywall.

In 2011, the Paytons moved their family to the Dallas area. They bought a home in Westlake, Texas. This area is known for its golf community. Payton kept a home in the New Orleans area during the football season.

In 2014, after his suspension, he moved to Uptown New Orleans. He bought a condo there. Before the 2015 season, he hosted a dinner for the coaches and players who had been with the Saints since he became head coach. He gave each of them a Rolex watch.

In January 2018, New Orleans musician Shamarr Allen wrote a song for Payton called "Hit the Sean Payton." He was inspired after seeing a video of Payton dancing with Saints players after a win. On November 10, 2019, it was announced that Payton got engaged to Skylene Montgomery. They married in a private ceremony on June 18, 2021, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Former NBA player and coach Avery Johnson officiated the wedding.

On March 19, 2020, it was reported that Payton had tested positive for COVID-19. He was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the NFL.

Honors and Awards

• National Football League Coach of the Year Award—AP, SN, PFW, Maxwell (2006)
• Kansas City Committee of 101 NFC Coach of the Year (2006, 2009)
• ESPY Awards Outstanding Team—New Orleans Saints (2010)
• NCAA Silver Anniversary Awards (2012)

Images for kids

• 

  Payton with the New Orleans Saints in 2021

• 

  Payton with the Lombardi Trophy after the Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV

See also

In Spanish: Sean Payton para niños