Report: Carolina Panthers eyeing Sean Payton to be next head coach
Sean Payton retired from coaching following this past NFL season after missing the playoffs with the New Orleans Saints. Now that we’ve seen Tom Brady go back on his word to leave the game, there’s a chance we could Payton could be as well, as the Carolina Panthers have expressed interest in the former Super Bowl-winning head coach, according to a report.
The Panthers will likely wait a year before actually pursuing Payton, as the offseason is already in full swing heading into current head coach Matt Rhule’s third season at the helm of the Carolina organization.
Until then, Payton will move his talents to the booth and focus on a career in broadcasting. He currently holds offers from both Amazon and Fox Sports, according to multiple reports.
“Down the road, if I choose to come back and coach, great,” Payton said. “But you want to be good at whatever you’re doing. So I’m looking forward to trying to be good in the studio.”
Payton discusses potential broadcasting shift in 2022
Now that he’s retired after a long run serving as the New Orleans Saints’ head coach, Sean Payton is weighing his options on what’s next for him in his professional career.
While many former coaches and players get into the broadcasting business as analysts following their careers in the sport, Payton is also considering taking that route. According to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, the former Super Bowl-winning coach has an interest in getting into the TV business.
“I’d like to try TV,” Payton said. “I’ve had some opportunities. I talked to Drew [Brees] about it a little bit last night. I don’t know that part of it that well, but that would be something that would interest me.”
While he’s has expressed his interest in getting into broadcasting, Garafolo noted that Payton “keeps saying he hasn’t had any conversations with networks yet.”
Payton, 58, served as the Saints’ head coach from 2006-2021 – compiling a 152-89 overall record in his 15 seasons. He captured the Super Bowl in 2009.