Sean Payton is now officially the head coach of the Denver Broncos.
The two teams agreed to terms earlier this week, and he officially signed his contract on Friday, which will keep him in Colorado for the next five seasons.
Sean Payton officially signed his five-year contract today with the Broncos, tying him to Denver through the 2027 season, per sources. Denver now has its man, officially. pic.twitter.com/yE5yt0iwOD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 3, 2023
Payton’s arrival has given the Broncos a sense of stability and certainty, if not optimism, at a time when they have desperately needed such qualities.
They traded for star quarterback Russell Wilson last offseason, which led them and their fans to expect a serious run at the Super Bowl.
Instead, they were saddled with one of the worst offenses in memory, as Wilson’s level of play dropped precipitously, and they finished 5-12 and failed to make the NFL playoffs.
Denver did have some key injuries this season, particularly to wide receiver Tim Patrick and running back Javonte Williams, but their struggles on offense were inexcusable, and those struggles led to the firing of head coach Nathaniel Hackett.
Payton spent a long tenure at the helm of the New Orleans Saints, and with the help of future Hall of Fame signal-caller Drew Brees, they boasted one of the league’s most potent offenses year after year.
The two led the Saints to a Super Bowl title in 2009 over Peyton Manning’s Indianapolis Colts, even though they were widely considered underdogs coming into the game.
The Broncos need all the help they can get, but at least now they have a coach who can get the most out of their personnel.
Payton may not be the second coming of Bill Walsh, but he is a very good coach who should make them much more competitive in 2023.
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