The agreement is now official.
The Denver Broncos agreed to trade first- and second-round draft picks to the New Orleans Saints last Tuesday in exchange for a third-round pick and the rights to coach Sean Payton.
Payton still had two years remaining on his contract with New Orleans, which is why Denver had to negotiate a trade for the coach’s rights.
The draft picks will not officially change hands until the NFL’s new league year begins in March, but the Broncos were permitted to hire Payton before then. Denver officially announced the hire on Friday evening.
Payton has received a five-year contract, but the exact terms of the deal are not yet known.
Payton arrives with a 152-89 record (.631) as a head coach after spending the 2006-2021 seasons with the Saints. He won seven division titles in New Orleans and led the team to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season,
Payton, 59, will now be tasked with helping the Broncos’ offense — and quarterback Russell Wilson — get back on track in 2023. Payton will be replacing Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired by Denver with two games remaining last season after he went 4-11.
We will be tracking Payton’s changes to the coaching staff on this page.
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