 Payton with theNew Orleans Saints in 2021 | |||||||||||||||||
| Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 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) | ||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1987: undrafted | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Quarterback, No. 17 | ||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||||
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Coaching | |||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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| Career Arena League statistics | |||||||||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||||||
| Regular season | 179–107 (.626) | ||||||||||||||||
| Postseason | 9–9 (.500) | ||||||||||||||||
| Career | 188–116 (.618) | ||||||||||||||||
| Coaching profile at Pro Football Reference | |||||||||||||||||
Patrick Sean Payton[1] (born December 29, 1963) is an American professionalfootball coach and formerquarterback who is thehead coach for theDenver Broncos of theNational Football League (NFL). Previously, he served as the head coach of theNew Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021, leading the franchise to its firstSuper Bowl victory during the2009 season. Payton playedcollege football for theEastern Illinois Panthers and played professionally in 1987 with theChicago Bears and in 1988 overseas in Britain for theLeicester Panthers.
He began his coaching career as offensive assistant forSan Diego State University and had several assistant coaching positions on college and NFL teams before being named as the tenth full-time coach in Saints history in 2006. Payton has always been known for his offensive prowess, having scored more points (2,804) and gained more yards (40,158) than any other team in a coach's first 100 games in NFL history.[2] Payton had the second-longest NFL single-team tenure among active head coaches, behindNew England Patriots head coachBill Belichick, who coached the Patriots from2000 to2023.
Under Payton's leadership, the Saints made the2006 NFL playoffs after a3–13 season in 2005 and advanced to their firstNFC Championship appearance in franchise history. Because of this effort, Payton won theAP NFL Coach of the Year Award. Following the 2009 season, the Saints won their first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. In 16 seasons with the Saints as head coach, Payton helped guide the team to three NFC Championship games (2006, 2009, and2018), a victory in Super Bowl XLIV, and nine total playoff berths with seven division titles, making him the most successful coach in Saints franchise history.
In April 2012, Payton was suspended for the entire2012 NFL season as a result of his involvement in theNew Orleans Saints bounty scandal, under which "bounties" were paid for injuring[3][4][5] players on opposing teams.[6] Before the 2011 season began, an email sent by Michael Ornstein outlined a plan offering $5,000 to anyone who would injureGreen Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgers in the season opener, which Payton initially denied knowing about but later admitted to having read.[7][8] Payton filed an appeal, but was denied, and was reinstated in January 2013.[9][10]
In Payton's second year as coach of the Denver Broncos during the2024 season, the team would make the playoffs.[11]
Payton was born inSan Mateo, California, and raised inNaperville, Illinois, by parents Thomas and Jeanne Payton.[12] Payton's parents were originally fromScranton, Pennsylvania; Thomas worked in the insurance industry.[13] Payton lived inNewtown Square, Pennsylvania, during his grade school and middle school years (1970–1978).[12] He attendedNaperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois,starting as quarterback his senior year before graduating in 1982. Earning a football scholarship, Payton had a successful career playing quarterback atEastern Illinois University, leading the Panthers to an 11–2 record and the quarter-finals of theDivision I-AA Playoffs in 1986. While attending EIU, he became a member of theSigma Chi fraternity and was later named a Significant Sig; one of Sigma Chi's highest honors.[14][15] Under coachAl Molde, Payton's Eastern Illinois teams were known as "Eastern Airlines" due to their prolific passing attack that frequently topped 300 yards per game (and had 509 passing yards in one game, still a school record).[16]
Although he was not drafted in the1987 NFL draft, Payton tried out for theKansas City Chiefs for one day. In 1987, he played quarterback for theChicago Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators during the inaugural season of theArena Football League, before his rights were sold for $1,000 to theOttawa Rough Riders of theCanadian Football League. He was also a member of theChicago Bears squad of strikebreaking replacement players, known as the "Spare Bears", during the1987 NFL players strike.[17] In 3 games he completed 8 of 23 passes (34.8%) for 79 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and a passer rating of 27.3. He was also sacked 7 times for 47 yards and had one rush attempt for 28 yards. His one interception came against theNew Orleans Saints, the team he would later go on to coach to a Super Bowl victory.[18][19]
In 1988, he played for theLeicester Panthers of the professional UK Budweiser National League. Payton landed the starting quarterback role for the Panthers. Payton led the Panthers to a touchdown on their first possession, and an 8–5 regular season record. That same season saw the Panthers go to the Quarterfinals of the playoffsBAFA National Leagues, eventually losing to theLondon Olympians. Afterwards Payton returned to the US to take up a coaching position.[20]
Payton began his coaching career in 1988 as anoffensive assistant atSan Diego State University. He made a series of assistant coaching positions atIndiana State University,Miami University (offensive coordinator),Illinois, and again at San Diego State (running backs coach), before landing a job as the quarterbacks coach with thePhiladelphia Eagles in 1997.[21]
He coachedMarshall Faulk from 1992 to 1993 while working at San Diego State.[22]
As OC atMiami University, he helped RBDeland McCullough run for over 1,100 yards.[23] In 1995, the team scored the most points in a season (326) since 1986 and finished 8–2–1.[24] RB Deland McCullough ran for over 1,600 yards with 14 TD and QB Sam Ricketts also threw 14 TD.
At theUniversity of Illinois in 1996,[25] he coached QB Scott Weaver, who completed 56% of his passes for over 1,700 yards and 7 TD.
From 1997 to 1998, Payton wasquarterbacks coach for thePhiladelphia Eagles and worked with offensive coordinatorJon Gruden and offensive line coachBill Callahan.[26] In 1998, Gruden and Callahan left for theOakland Raiders, and Eagles head coachRay Rhodes and Payton were fired.[27] The Eagles' quarterbacks passed for 4,009 yards in 1997.[28] Payton would not be retained by new head coachAndy Reid.
In 1999, Payton was hired as the quarterbacks coach for theNew York Giants and was promoted to the role ofoffensive coordinator in 2000.[29][30] Under his guidance, the Giants would go on to represent theNFC inSuper Bowl XXXV.[31] During this time, he was known to lock himself in the stadium and sleep on the couches while studying plays during off-days.
At around 6:45 a.m. onSeptember 11, 2001, the New York Giants' flight fromDenver, where the Giants played theDenver Broncos for the firstMonday Night Football game of2001, landed at the gate ofNewark Liberty International Airport next toUnited Airlines Flight 93, the flight that was hijacked and eventually crashed inrural Pennsylvania. Payton recalls this moment in his autobiographyHome Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life.[32] During the2002 season, after several poor showings by the Giants' offense, Payton's role in play-calling was taken over by then head coachJim Fassel.[33] Under Fassel the offense improved and propelled the team to a wild-card playoff berth.
Payton joinedBill Parcells and theDallas Cowboys as an assistant head coach and a quarterbacks coach in 2003. He guided three different quarterbacks (Quincy Carter,Vinny Testaverde, andDrew Bledsoe) to 3,000-yard passing seasons, while contributing to improve the passing offense from a 31st rank to 15th in the league. He also has been attributed as the primary factor for the team signingundrafted free agentTony Romo in 2003.
In 2004, he became a sought-after assistant in the league, so the Cowboys gave him a pay raise to remain as their assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.[34] In 2005, he was promoted by Parcells to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator.
Payton began his first head coaching assignment in 2006 with theNew Orleans Saints.[35] In the wake ofHurricane Katrina, during the2005 season the Saints had finished with a 3–13 record, ranking as the second worst team in the league. However, Payton turned the struggling team around, and, with newly acquired free agent quarterbackDrew Brees, led them to their first playoff appearance in six years. The team had one of the league's most productive offenses, ranking first in passing,[36] and fifth in points scored.[37] The Saints won theNFC South with a 10–6 record, earned a first-round playoff bye and notched only the second playoff win in franchise history, giving them a berth in theNFC Championship Game against the top-seededChicago Bears. The Saints out-gained the Bears in total yards on offense, but lost the game by the lopsided score of 39–14. Receiving 44 out of 50 votes from a panel of sports journalists and broadcasters, Payton won theAPNFL Coach of the Year Award in January 2007.[38]
In the2007 season, the Saints tried to improve upon their 10–6 record from the previous season. They and thePittsburgh Steelers opened the NFL preseason, playing theHall of Fame Game on August 5, 2007. The Saints were 3–2 in the preseason. The Saints also had the honor of opening the season against the defending championIndianapolis Colts. The Saints finished the 2007 season 7–9.
In 2009, Payton coached the Saints to their most successful season with a13–3 record. They won their playoff games and went to the Super Bowl. Payton decided to start the second half with a surpriseonside kick, giving New Orleans possession. It's noted as one of the gutsiest plays in Super Bowl history.[39] In the fourth quarter,Tracy Porter interceptedPeyton Manning during the fourth quarter and returned the pick for a touchdown, securing a 31–17 victory over theIndianapolis Colts inSuper Bowl XLIV, the team's first Super Bowl win.
In June 2010, Payton published a book (written with journalistEllis Henican) entitledHome Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life.[40] The book opened at number 8 on the non-fictionbestseller list ofThe New York Times.[41] Payton described the concept ofHome Team: "I didn't want to write another winning-on-the-field book or about modern-day leadership...I wanted to write a book about the stories, ones that you sit around and tell your friends."[42]
On October 16, 2011, while coaching against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Payton broke histibia and tore hisMCL in a collision with tight endJimmy Graham's helmet after Graham was tackled on the sideline. Unable to stand on the sidelines, Payton coached from the booth during rehabilitation. In a memorable moment the week after, Payton was spotted eating ahot dog in a relaxed state while the Saintsblew out theIndianapolis Colts 62–7.[43]
On March 2, 2012, the NFL concluded after a thorough investigation that from 2009 to 2011, theSaints implemented a bounty program that rewarded players for deliberately attempting to knock opposing players out of games. Theslush fund was determined to be administered by defensive coordinatorGregg Williams, who joined the team in 2009. An extensive league investigation found that Payton was implicated in the Bounty Scandal. The league determined Payton went as far as to orchestrate a cover-up when the league first investigated it in the 2009–10 offseason. When informed that the league was investigating reports of a bounty program, Payton met with Williams and assistant head coachJoe Vitt and told them, "Let's make sure our ducks are in a row."[44]
According to a league memo, the NFL reopened its investigation late in the 2011 season. Just before the Saints' playoff game against theDetroit Lions, league officials alerted Saints ownerTom Benson that they had found irrefutable evidence of the Saints' bounty program.[45][46] When general managerMickey Loomis informed Payton that the league had reopened its investigation, Payton failed to shut the alleged program down.[44]
On March 22, 2012, NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell suspended Payton for the entire2012 season, effective April 1. Payton became the first head coach in modern NFL history to be suspended for any reason. Goodell was particularly upset that Payton and other Saints officials had lied to him about the scheme. For instance, during its investigation, the league uncovered an email that Michael Ornstein, the agent for former Saints running backReggie Bush, had sent to Payton. In reality, the Ornstein email wasn't directly sent to Payton, instead it came to team spokesman Greg Bensel, who then forwarded it to the coaching staff with this message: "email from Orny (he asked that I send it) the dude is in prison so I told him I would."[47] The email stated "put me down for $5,000 onGreen Bay Packers quarterbackAaron Rodgers."[46] "It's a running joke going for three years," Ornstein said. "Ornstein's email is just another example of the speciousness of the quote-unquote evidence that Commissioner (Roger) Goodell claims to have to support his erroneous accusations against Jonathan and the other players," lawyer Peter Ginsberg said. "As more of the evidence is revealed in the media, it is becoming more and more apparent how irresponsible the NFL's actions have been."[48] When confronted with the email, Payton initially claimed he never read it, but subsequently admitted that he had.[45][8] In an interview withESPN'sAdam Schefter, Goodell implied that Payton would have faced significant punishment even if he'd been more forthcoming. In Goodell's view, Payton's contractual obligation to supervise his assistants meant that, at the very least, he should have known about the scheme and shut it down immediately.[49] In the league's announcement of sanctions against the Saints, Payton was faulted for violating a provision of the league constitution that requires coaches to inform their owners about team operations, as well as to "avoid actions that undermine or damage the club's reputation or operating success."[44]
On March 30, 2012, Payton lodged a formal appeal of his suspension. Goodell held an expedited hearing on the matter and was expected to render a decision in "days, not weeks," according to ESPN's Schefter. Payton also used the hearing as a chance to get clarification on the terms of his ban.[50] Goodell turned the appeal down on April 9, meaning that Payton's suspension was set to begin on April 16.[51] He was to remain suspended until the end ofSuper Bowl XLVII, which was held in New Orleans. According to ESPN'sChris Mortensen, Payton was to forfeit $7.8 million of his $8.1 million salary.[52] He was barred from even casual contact with anyone in the NFL; any such contact would have to be reported to NFL executive Ray Anderson.[53]
Soon after the suspension was announced, Payton began discussions with his mentor Bill Parcells about serving as an interim coach for the 2012 season.[54]
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, which would have allowed Payton to leave if Saints general managerMickey Loomis were not with the team. The NFL's action left Payton's contract status in doubt beyond the 2012 season, although Payton said that he intended to return to the Saints.[55]
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated Payton on January 22, 2013.[10]
During his 2012 suspension from the NFL, Payton served as the offensive coordinator for his son Connor's sixth-grade team inArgyle, Texas.[56] Payton used a simplified version of the Saints playbook, and the team went unbeaten until they suffered a loss near the end of the regular season to a team that ran thesingle-wing, which his team was unable to stop. Since he believed he would face that team again in the league's playoffs, he obtained video that the father of one of his players had recorded, and then contacted his mentorBill Parcells to help him break down the opponent's offense. The teams indeed faced one another in the league finals; Payton's team lost a considerably closer game in which they were able to slow down the opposing offense.[57]
Payton agreed to a new multi-year contract extension as head coach of the Saints, beginning in 2013.[58] In the 2013 season, he led the team to a 11–5 record, good for second in the NFC South.[59] 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.[60][61] The 2014 season saw the Saints finish with a 7–9 record and miss the postseason.[62] Payton led the Saints to another 7–9 finish in the 2015 season..[63] On January 6, 2016, he announced that he would stay with the Saints despite interest from other teams that had led to speculation that he would be traded.[64]
Payton agreed to a new five-year contract extension as head coach of the Saints on March 23, 2016.[65] OnChristmas Eve 2016, Payton notched his 94th victory as Saints head coach, passingJim E. Mora as the winningest coach in franchise history.[66] In the 2016 season, the Saints went 7–9 for the third consecutive season.[67]
The2017 season saw the Saints achieve their first winning season since2013, with an 11–5 record.[68] In thewild-card round of the postseason, New Orleans defeated theirdivision rivalCarolina Panthers 31–26 to advance to thedivisional round against the second-seededMinnesota Vikings. Against the Vikings, after falling behind 17–0, the Saints were able to regain a 24–23 lead in the final minute of the fourth quarter. But on the last play of the game, Vikings quarterbackCase Keenum threw a 27-yard pass to wide receiverStefon Diggs, who evaded Saints safetyMarcus Williams and ran to the end zone to complete a 61-yard touchdown pass as time expired to win the game for Minnesota, 29–24. This game was the first in NFL playoff history to end in a touchdown as time expired. The play would later be known as theMinneapolis Miracle.[69]
In the2018 season, the Saints attained the top-seed in the NFC after finishing with a 13–3 record.[70] Upon eliminating the defendingSuper Bowl championPhiladelphia Eagles 20–14 in thedivisional round, the team advanced to theNFC Championship Game against theLos Angeles Rams for the right to represent the conference inSuper Bowl LIII. The game was marred with controversy after the referees missed a pass interference call of Rams cornerbackNickell Robey-Coleman's hit on Saints wide receiverTommylee Lewis on 3rd-and-10 with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Saints went on to lose 26–23 in overtime. Some fans, players, and analysts believe the missed call is among the worst in NFL history. The NFL admitted to missing the call soon after the game was over, but did not apologize for the situation until a week and a half later. They also did not overturn the result of the game. The fallout from the missed call 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 the2019 season.
On September 15, 2019, the Saints and Payton agreed to a five-year contract extension.[71] The Saints once again finished 13–3 in2019.[72] However, they were upset in thewild-card round of the playoffs by theMinnesota Vikings in overtime 26–20, a third consecutive disappointing playoff finish for the Saints.[73]
Payton was finedUS$100,000 by the NFL for not properly wearing aface mask, as required for coaches during theCOVID-19 pandemic, during a week 2 game in the2020 NFL season on September 22, 2020.[74] In the 2020 season, Payton led the Saints to a 12–4 record and a NFC South title.[75]
Following the2021 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.[76][77] Payton finished his tenure in New Orleans with an overall record of 161–97 and as the winningest coach in franchise history.[78] On February 28, 2022, it was revealed that theMiami Dolphins had requested permission from the Saints to interview Payton for their vacant head coaching spot, but were reportedly denied permission and had scrapped the idea after their former head coach,Brian Flores, filed a lawsuit against the NFL over racial discrimination in hiring practices early that month. The Dolphins were considering pairing Payton with quarterbackTom Brady, who had briefly retired from the NFL from February 1, 2022, until March 13, 2022.[79][80][81] On June 13, 2022, it was reported that the Dolphins offered Payton a five-year deal worth $100 million, a deal that would have made him the highest paid coach in NFL history, and would have been only the second $100 million deal signed by a head coach, afterJon Gruden's 10-year, $100 million contract to return to theOakland Raiders in 2018.[82] Six months after the pursuit was first reported, on August 2, 2022, the Dolphins and team ownerStephen M. Ross were fined $1.5 million and forfeited a 2023 first-round draft pick along with a 2024 third-round pick due to impermissible communication with both Payton and Tom Brady, who both share the same agent,Don Yee, between the 2019 and 2021 seasons. Ross also received a six-game suspension as a result and Dolphins vice chairman/limited partner Bruce Beal was fined $500,000 and received a year-long suspension for the 2022 season.[83]
Following the2021 season, Payton announced his retirement from coaching in January 2022.[84][85]
In January 2023, Payton interviewed for head coach vacancies with theDenver Broncos,Carolina Panthers,Arizona Cardinals, andHouston Texans.[86][87][88][89]
On January 31, 2023, Payton reported that he had accepted the position of head coach for the Denver Broncos, and was officially hired three days later.[90][91] In order to release Payton from his contract with the Saints, 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.[92] The2023 season ended on a controversial note after two straight losses to theDetroit Lions andNew England Patriots, quarterbackRussell Wilson was benched in favor ofJarrett Stidham for the final two games of the season to "preserve financial flexibility".[93]
In Week 7 of the2024 season, Payton and the Broncos played against the Saints in aThursday Night Football game. 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.[94][95]
In Week 18, the Broncos, with Payton as the head coach, clinched their first playoff berth since the2015 season after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 38–0.[96] It was also the team's first winning season since2016.[97] In theWild Card Round, the Broncos lost to the Buffalo Bills 31–7.[98]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| NO | 2006 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toChicago Bears inNFC Championship Game |
| NO | 2007 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO | 2008 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4th in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO | 2009 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC South | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XLIV champions |
| NO | 2010 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toSeattle Seahawks inNFC Wild Card Game |
| NO | 2011 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toSan Francisco 49ers inNFC Divisional Game |
| NO | 2012 | suspended | ||||||||
| NO | 2013 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toSeattle Seahawks inNFC Divisional Game |
| NO | 2014 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2nd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO | 2015 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO | 2016 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO | 2017 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toMinnesota Vikings inNFC Divisional Game |
| NO | 2018 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toLos Angeles Rams inNFC Championship Game |
| NO | 2019 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC South | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toMinnesota Vikings inNFC Wild Card Game |
| NO | 2020 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in NFC South | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toTampa Bay Buccaneers inNFC Divisional Game |
| NO | 2021 | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 2nd in NFC South | — | — | — | — |
| NO total | 152 | 89 | 0 | .631 | 9 | 8 | .529 | |||
| DEN | 2023 | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 3rd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| DEN | 2024 | 10 | 7 | 0 | .588 | 3rd in AFC West | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toBuffalo Bills inAFC Wild Card Game |
| DEN | 2025 | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | TBD in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| DEN total | 27 | 18 | 0 | .600 | 0 | 1 | .000 | |||
| Total | 179 | 107 | 0 | .626 | 9 | 9 | .500 | |||
Payton has worked under eight head coaches:
Thirteen of Payton's assistant coaches became head coaches in the NFL or NCAA:
Three of Payton's executives became general managers in the NFL:
After stepping down as head coach of the Saints, Payton joined Fox to work in studio throughout 2022, becoming a part of theFox NFL Sunday panel as a fill-in forJimmy Johnson's off days.[123] Payton was also in talks to joinAmazon's NFL coverage before accepting the role.[124]
Payton met Beth Shuey, an Indiana State University graduate, while coaching there.[125] The couple have two children, daughter Meghan (born 1997) and son Connor (born 2000).[126] Payton isIrish Catholic.[127] Payton and his family moved to a home inMandeville, Louisiana when he became the Saints' head coach. The home, like many built on theGulf Coast afterHurricane Katrina, later turned out to be constructed withdefective Chinese drywall, and Payton eventually became a named plaintiff in a widely reportedclass action lawsuit against the manufacturer,Knauf Plasterboard Tianjin Co. Ltd.[128]
In the wake of the issues with their home in Mandeville, the Paytons decided to move the family back to theDallas area in 2011 when they purchased a home in the Vacquero Club, an upscale golf community inWestlake that is home to severalPGA Tour professionals, as well as theJonas Brothers andJosh Hamilton.[129] Rumors swirled over the2011 Super Bowl weekend that the move would coincide with Payton returning to the Cowboys as theGeneral Manager or in some other executive capacity, but these turned out to be groundless.[130] At the time, he maintained a residence in theNew Orleans area during the season, while his family resided full-time in Westlake, a 90-minute trip via a privately chartered flight.[129]
In June 2012, Payton and his wife Beth filed for divorce.[131][132]
In 2014, after his suspension and the finalization of his divorce, he moved from the New Orleans suburbs where he had kept his in-season home toUptown New Orleans, buying acondo in that neighborhood. Shortly before the 2015 season, which coincided with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, he hosted a dinner for the four coaches and four players who had continuously been with the Saints since he became head coach, and presented each of them with aRolex watch.[57]
In January 2018, New Orleans musician Shamarr Allen dedicated a song to Payton entitled "Hit the Sean Payton"[133] which he composed after watching an Instagram live video of Payton dancing in celebration with the Saints players after defeating theCarolina Panthers for the third timethat season.[134][135][136] Saints running backAlvin Kamara had recorded the locker room celebrations for his Instagram live feed and the video went viral on social media.[137] On November 10, 2019, at the end of the Saints vs.Falcons game, it was announced that Payton had gotten engaged two days prior on November 8 to his girlfriend,Skylene Montgomery.[138] They married in a private ceremony on June 18, 2021, inCabo San Lucas,Mexico. The wedding was officiated by former NBA player and coachAvery Johnson.[139]
On March 19, 2020, it was reported that Payton had tested positive forCOVID-19. Payton became the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the NFL.[140]
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