Career Timeline of Sean Payton: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Sean Payton built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Sean Payton is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Denver Broncos. He is best known for his successful tenure as head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021, where he guided the team to their first Super Bowl victory in 2009. Before coaching, Payton played college football at Eastern Illinois and briefly played professionally for the Chicago Bears and the Leicester Panthers. His coaching career is marked by offensive innovation and leadership.
1986: Eastern Illinois University Quarterfinals
In 1986, Sean Payton led the Eastern Illinois University Panthers to the quarter-finals of the Division I-AA Playoffs.
1987: Professional Football Debut
In 1987, Sean Payton played professionally with the Chicago Bears.
1987: Played in Arena Football League and for Chicago Bears
In 1987, Sean Payton played quarterback for the Chicago Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators in the Arena Football League, and was a member of the Chicago Bears squad of strikebreaking replacement players.
1988: Started Coaching Career at San Diego State University
In 1988, Sean Payton began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at San Diego State University.
1988: Played for the Leicester Panthers
In 1988, Sean Payton played for the Leicester Panthers of the professional UK Budweiser National League, leading the team to a touchdown on their first possession and an 8-5 regular season record.
1988: Overseas Football Career
In 1988, Sean Payton played professional football overseas in Britain for the Leicester Panthers.
1992: Coached Marshall Faulk at San Diego State
From 1992 to 1993, Sean Payton coached Marshall Faulk while working at San Diego State.
1993: Coached Marshall Faulk at San Diego State
From 1992 to 1993, Sean Payton coached Marshall Faulk while working at San Diego State.
1995: Most Points Scored in a Season Since 1986
In 1995, Sean Payton's team scored the most points in a season (326) since 1986, finishing with an 8-2-1 record. RB Deland McCullough ran for over 1,600 yards with 14 TD and QB Sam Ricketts also threw 14 TD.
1996: Coached QB Scott Weaver at the University of Illinois
In 1996, Sean Payton coached QB Scott Weaver at the University of Illinois, who completed 56% of his passes for over 1,700 yards and 7 TDs.
1997: Quarterbacks Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles
From 1997 to 1998, Sean Payton was the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, working with offensive coordinator Jon Gruden and offensive line coach Bill Callahan. The Eagles' quarterbacks passed for 4,009 yards in 1997.
1998: Fired from the Philadelphia Eagles
In 1998, after Gruden and Callahan left for the Oakland Raiders, Eagles head coach Ray Rhodes and Sean Payton were fired from the Philadelphia Eagles.
1999: Hired as Quarterbacks Coach for New York Giants
In 1999, Sean Payton was hired as the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants.
2000: Promoted to Offensive Coordinator
In 2000, Sean Payton was promoted to the role of offensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who would later represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXV.
2002: Play-Calling Taken Over by Jim Fassel
During the 2002 season, after poor showings by the Giants' offense, Sean Payton's role in play-calling was taken over by then head coach Jim Fassel. The offense improved and propelled the team to a wild-card playoff berth.
2003: Assistant Head Coach and Quarterbacks Coach for Dallas Cowboys
In 2003, Sean Payton joined Bill Parcells and the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant head coach and a quarterbacks coach, guiding three different quarterbacks to 3,000-yard passing seasons.
2004: Pay Raise from Cowboys
In 2004, the Dallas Cowboys gave Sean Payton a pay raise to remain as their assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.
2005: Promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator
In 2005, Sean Payton was promoted by Bill Parcells to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys.
2006: Became Head Coach of New Orleans Saints
In 2006, Sean Payton became the head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
2006: First Head Coaching Assignment with New Orleans Saints
In 2006, Sean Payton began his first head coaching assignment with the New Orleans Saints, leading them to their first playoff appearance in six years.
2006: Named Tenth Full-Time Coach in Saints History
In 2006, Sean Payton was named the tenth full-time coach in the history of the New Orleans Saints.
2006: Saints Made NFL Playoffs and NFC Championship Appearance
In 2006, under Sean Payton's leadership, the Saints made the NFL playoffs and advanced to their first NFC Championship appearance in franchise history.
January 2007: AP NFL Coach of the Year Award
In January 2007, Sean Payton won the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award for his work with the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
2009: Super Bowl Victory
During the 2009 season, Sean Payton led the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl victory.
September 2011: Payton's Contract Extended
In September 2011, the Saints and Sean Payton agreed to extend his contract through 2015.
March 22, 2012: Sean Payton Suspended by NFL
On March 22, 2012, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season, effective April 1. This suspension made Payton the first head coach in modern NFL history to be suspended. The suspension resulted from Payton's involvement in the Saints' bounty program and misleading statements made to the league about the scheme.
March 30, 2012: Payton Appeals Suspension
On March 30, 2012, Sean Payton formally appealed his suspension. Commissioner Goodell held an expedited hearing and was expected to make a decision quickly. Payton sought clarification on the terms of his ban during the hearing.
November 4, 2012: NFL Disallows Contract Extension
On November 4, 2012, the NFL revealed that it had disallowed Sean Payton's contract extension, which had been agreed upon in September 2011, because the NFL deemed a clause in the contract to violate its rules.
2012: Discussions with Bill Parcells
In 2012, shortly after his suspension was announced, Sean Payton began discussions with his mentor, Bill Parcells, about potentially serving as an interim coach for the 2012 season.
2012: Permission to Attend Saints Game
In week 5 of the 2012 NFL season, Sean Payton, along with Vitt and Loomis, received permission to attend the Saints game against the San Diego Chargers so they could witness Drew Brees break Johnny Unitas' record for most consecutive games with a touchdown pass.
January 2013: Reinstatement After Suspension
In January 2013, Sean Payton was reinstated after serving his suspension related to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.
January 22, 2013: Payton Reinstated by NFL
On January 22, 2013, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Sean Payton. Payton agreed to a new multi-year contract extension as head coach of the Saints, beginning in 2013.
2013: Saints Season
In the 2013 season, Payton led the team to an 11–5 record, good for second in the NFC South. After a 26–24 win over the Eagles in the Wild Card Round, the Saints lost to the Seahawks 23–15 in the Divisional Round.
2014: Saints Miss Postseason
The 2014 season saw the Saints finish with a 7–9 record and miss the postseason.
2015: Contract Extension Through 2015
In September 2011, the Saints and Payton agreed to extend Payton's contract through 2015. However, on November 4, 2012, the NFL revealed that it had disallowed the extension because it contained a clause the NFL deemed to violate its rules. So, by 2015, his contract status was in doubt.
2015: Broncos Clinch Playoff Berth
In Week 18 of the 2024 season, the Broncos, with Payton as the head coach, clinched their first playoff berth since the 2015 season after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 38–0.
2015: First AFC West Title Since 2015
In his third season with the Broncos, the team won 11 straight games after starting the season 1-2 and won the division with one game to spare after the Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Houston Texans, giving Denver their first AFC West title since 2015.
2015: Another 7-9 Season for Saints
In the 2015 season, Sean Payton led the Saints to another 7–9 finish.
January 6, 2016: Payton Stays with Saints
On January 6, 2016, Sean Payton announced that he would stay with the Saints despite interest from other teams that had led to speculation that he would be traded.
March 23, 2016: Payton Agrees to Contract Extension
On March 23, 2016, Sean Payton agreed to a new five-year contract extension as head coach of the Saints.
2016: Broncos first winning season since 2016
In Week 7 of the 2024 season, the Broncos, with Payton as the head coach, achieved first winning season since 2016.
2017: Saints Achieve Winning Season
In 2017, the Saints achieved their first winning season since 2013, with an 11–5 record. They advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs but lost to the Minnesota Vikings in a game known as the Minneapolis Miracle.
2018: NFC Championship Game
In 2018, Sean Payton guided the Saints to an NFC Championship game.
2018: Controversial NFC Championship Game
In the 2018 season, Sean Payton's Saints attained the top-seed in the NFC after finishing with a 13–3 record. They advanced to the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, where a missed pass interference call contributed to a 26–23 overtime loss.
2018: Gruden's Contract
Jon Gruden's 10-year, $100 million contract to return to the Oakland Raiders in 2018. This contract is referenced to draw a comparison with a potential deal offered to Payton.
September 15, 2019: Contract Extension Agreed Upon
On September 15, 2019, the Saints and Sean Payton agreed to a five-year contract extension.
2019: Expanded Instant Replay Discussion
The fallout from the missed call in the 2018 NFC Championship game was a factor in the NFL's decision to expand instant replay, making pass interference (including non-calls) reviewable. However, that ability to change PI calls did not last past the 2019 season.
2021: Saints Miss Postseason
Following the 2021 NFL season, which saw the Saints go 9–8 and miss the postseason, and a year after his long-time quarterback, Drew Brees, retired from the NFL, Payton announced he would be stepping down as head coach after 16 years.
2021: Payton Announces Retirement
Sean Payton announced his retirement from coaching in January 2022, following the 2021 season.
2021: End of Saints Head Coaching Tenure
Sean Payton's tenure as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints concluded in 2021.
January 2022: Payton Announces Retirement
In January 2022, Sean Payton announced his retirement from coaching following the 2021 season.
February 28, 2022: Dolphins Request to Interview Payton
On February 28, 2022, the Miami Dolphins requested permission from the Saints to interview Sean Payton for their vacant head coaching spot, but were reportedly denied permission.
June 13, 2022: Dolphins Offer Payton $100 Million Deal
On June 13, 2022, it was reported that the Miami Dolphins offered Sean Payton a five-year deal worth $100 million, a deal that would have made him the highest paid coach in NFL history.
2022: Joins Fox NFL Sunday panel
In 2022, after stepping down as head coach of the Saints, Sean Payton joined Fox to work in studio, becoming a part of the Fox NFL Sunday panel as a fill-in for Jimmy Johnson's off days. He was also in talks to join Amazon's NFL coverage.
January 2023: Interviews for Head Coach Vacancies
In January 2023, Sean Payton interviewed for head coach vacancies with the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, and Houston Texans.
January 31, 2023: Payton Accepts Broncos Head Coach Position
On January 31, 2023, Sean Payton reported that he had accepted the position of head coach for the Denver Broncos.
2024: Payton Defeats All 32 Teams and Clinches Playoff Berth
In Week 7 of the 2024 season, after the Broncos defeated the Saints 33–10, Payton became just the eighth head coach in NFL history to defeat all 32 teams in the league. In Week 18, the Broncos, with Payton as the head coach, clinched their first playoff berth since the 2015 season after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 38–0. It was also the team's first winning season since 2016.
2024: Broncos Trade for Payton
In order to release Payton from his contract with the Saints in January 2023, the Broncos agreed to trade a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick to the Saints in exchange for Payton and a 2024 third-round pick.
February 24, 2026: Handing over play calling duties
On February 24, 2026, Sean Payton announced he would hand over offensive play calling duties to offensive coordinator Davis Webb. This marks the first time in Payton's career as a head coach that he would not be calling plays.
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