Sean Payton helped the Denver Broncos return to relevance since taking over as the head coach in 2023. However, there was reportedly a master plan considered that would have had legendary coach Bill Belichick in the coaching driver's seat in Denver instead.
According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Payton considered pitching the idea of temporarily stepping down as head coach and relinquishing his job to Belichick after he parted ways with the New England Patriots in 2024. Payton and Belichick had developed a strong friendship, and the Broncos coach was willing to step aside to give the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach a chance to reach the 15 wins needed for him to break Don Shula's record of 347 victories.
The thinking was that Payton would step down and ******* ume the role as ******* istant head coach and offensive coordinator until Belichick reached the necessary win total.
Wickersham wrote:
"Payton and Belichick go back decades, forged by mutual respect -- and mutual trauma from working under Parcells. When Belichick and the Patriots divorced in 2024, Payton considered presenting Broncos owner Greg Penner a proposal for the ages: Hire Belichick as head coach until he reached 15 wins, enough to break Don Shula's career record of 347. Payton would temporarily step down to ******* istant head coach and run the offense, then move back after Belichick became the all-time leader. In the end, it was too complicated -- and maybe too fanciful."
According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Payton considered pitching the idea of temporarily stepping down as head coach and relinquishing his job to Belichick after he parted ways with the New England Patriots in 2024. Payton and Belichick had developed a strong friendship, and the Broncos coach was willing to step aside to give the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach a chance to reach the 15 wins needed for him to break Don Shula's record of 347 victories.
The thinking was that Payton would step down and ******* ume the role as ******* istant head coach and offensive coordinator until Belichick reached the necessary win total.
Wickersham wrote:
"Payton and Belichick go back decades, forged by mutual respect -- and mutual trauma from working under Parcells. When Belichick and the Patriots divorced in 2024, Payton considered presenting Broncos owner Greg Penner a proposal for the ages: Hire Belichick as head coach until he reached 15 wins, enough to break Don Shula's career record of 347. Payton would temporarily step down to ******* istant head coach and run the offense, then move back after Belichick became the all-time leader. In the end, it was too complicated -- and maybe too fanciful."
4 months ago
