Sean Payton is in his first season as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. That’s not enough time to set up a culture or create strong trends or rivalries for his new team. However, playing in Detroit will be a different story for Payton’s Broncos.
When Payton looks across the sideline to the Lions, he’ll see a plethora of coaches he helped mentor and guide into the positions they have today during his lengthy tenure running the New Orleans Saints. It obviously starts with head coach Dan Campbell, but the ties with the Payton-era Saints go much deeper.
Payton was asked about his ties to Campbell and the Lions in a press conference this week. As is his custom — a trait which Campbell clearly inherited from his mentor — Payton gave a lengthy and candid answer:
“There are so many ties for me with this staff. Obviously, I’ve been with [Lions Head Coach] Dan [Campbell]. I was in New York when we drafted him. When I went to Dallas, I convinced [Pro Football Hall of Fame Head Coach] Bill [Parcells] to sign him as a free agent. I signed him later in New Orleans as a player. I spent the better part of two or three years trying to hire him as a coach, and I was lucky enough eventually. He became assistant head coach, and I have tremendous respect for everything about him—what he stands for, and how he coaches. You have [Lions Defensive Coordinator] Aaron Glenn, who I hired. He’s the same way. He’s going to be a head coach. [He was a] fabulous player [and is a] tremendous coach. [Lions LB] Alex [Anzalone]—you have [Lions Quarterbacks Coach] Mark Brunell. There are a number of guys with a lot of ties. As a former head coach of theirs, you’re proud of them. You really are. Enough flowers (laughs).”
As transcribed by the Broncos media staff
It should make for an interesting matchup between teacher and students on Saturday in Ford Field.