New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton, in just his fourth season as a head coach in the National Football League, is the first coach in franchise history to lead the team to a Super Bowl title. Payton guided the Saints to their first-ever championship on February 7, 2010 when the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida.
For Payton, the run has capped a four-year span in which he has presided over the most prolific offense in the NFL in three-of-his four seasons at the helm. Twice he has guided the Saints to the NFC championship game (2006 and 2009), with the Saints breaking through to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl following the 2009 regular season. With a career coaching record of 42-27 (60.9 winning percentage), Payton owns the second-most wins in team history and owns a career-mark in the postseason of 4-1 (80%-also a franchise best record).
In 2009 Payton guided the Saints to the team’s second NFC South title in his four seasons (2006) with a record of 13-3. Along the way the Saints set a franchise-record for most wins in a season (13) and the longest winning streak in team history (also 13 games). Payton once gain was named as the top head coach in the NFL by numerous media outlets and recognized football chapters, including by the NFL Alumni Association, the Kansas City Committee of 101 Coach of the Year and the Maxwell Club’s prestigious Greasy Neal Award as the top professional coach of the year.
Payton was also recognized by similar outlets in just his rookie season as a head coach in 2006 following the success of the team during his inaugural foray into the head coaching ranks.
In 2009, the Saints ranked as the National Football League’s number one ranked offense (sixth in rushing and fourth in passing) for the second consecutive season and the third time in four seasons. The Saints set team records in scoring (510), and touchdowns (64) under Payton’s watch and battled through the postseason with victories over the Arizona Cardinals (divisional round) and Minnesota Vikings (NFC Championship game) en route to Super Bowl XLIV.
In 2008, the Saints ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total offense for only the second time in club history - duplicating the feat achieved in 2006, Payton's first season with the team. With Payton serving as play-caller, last season the Saints set team records for points (463), total yards (6,571), net passing yards (4,977), touchdowns (57) and first downs (354).
Also in 2008, New Orleans defeated playoff teams Atlanta and San Diego – with the victory over the Chargers coming in the NFL International Series in London. The Saints also tied a team record for single-game scoring in a 51-29 win over Green Bay.
In 2007, the Saints endured injuries and a slow start, but put together a four-game winning streak to get back into playoff contention. New Orleans finished No. 4 in the NFL in total offense while also holding nine opponents to 17 points or fewer.
Payton scrapped the traditional timetable for rebuilding an NFL club in 2006. In his opening season as a head coach, the Saints jumped out to a 3-0 record - a first in team history and equaling the team's win total from the previous year – and clinched the NFC South title before the regular season finale. New Orleans led the NFL in total offense and advanced to the NFC Championship for the first time.
When 2006 came to a close, Payton was voted the Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, The Sporting News and the Maxwell Club.
Payton was hired as the 14th head coach in Saints history on Jan. 18, 2006 after being a member of the Dallas Cowboys staff since 2003. In 2009 he enters his 13th season in the NFL and 21st in coaching.
Prior to his final season with the Cowboys, Payton was promoted to assistant head coach/passing game coordinator and was responsible for the team's play-calling. For the previous two years, he had been assistant head coach/quarterbacks.
In 2005, the Cowboys tied for second in the NFC with 318 first downs. When Payton arrived Dallas had ranked 31st in passing the previous year but immediately improved to 17th.
Payton came to Dallas after four years with the New York Giants (1999-2002), the last three as offensive coordinator after spending his first season as quarterbacks coach. Payton solidified his reputation as one of the game's brightest offensive minds in 2000. In his first season as coordinator, the Giants captured the NFC title and went to Super Bowl XXXV. New York scored 328 points – the club's highest total since 1990 - and finished 13th in the NFL in total offense.
Payton was first assigned play-calling duties prior to a game against the Jets on Dec. 5, 1999. The Giants responded with 41 points and 490 yards - both season highs - and he retained that assignment over the final five games. Appointed the offensive coordinator the following season, over the next three years the Giants passing attack continually improved, ranking 13th in the NFL in 2000, tied for eighth in 2001 and sixth in 2002.
In 2002 the Giants also finished sixth overall in total offense, the team's highest ranking since 1985. In the previous decade, New York hadn't ranked above 20th. Prior to joining the Giants, he spent 1997 and 1998 as Philadelphia's quarterbacks coach.
During his career, Payton has had particular success tutoring quarterbacks. Drew Brees has thrived since arriving in New Orleans, including last year becoming only the second passer in NFL history to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. In 2007, Brees set a league record with 440 completions, and he owns club records for almost every single-season category.
Since 2000, every passer under Payton's guidance has thrown for over 3,000 yards. The three starting quarterbacks he worked with in Dallas - Drew Bledsoe in 2005, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 - all surpassed the milestone. And while in New York, Giants QB Kerry Collins had 4,073 yards in 2002.
Payton wrapped two coaching stints at San Diego State University (1988-89 and 1992-93) around a stop at Indiana State (1990-91). During his second stretch with the Aztecs, Payton was running backs coach, working with Heisman Trophy runner-up Marshall Faulk before becoming quarterbacks coach.
Following the 1993 season, Payton moved to Miami of Ohio (1994-95) where he was quarterbacks coach prior to being promoted to co-offensive coordinator. He spent 1996 as quarterbacks coach at Illinois before entering the NFL with Philadelphia.
Payton earned a degree in communications at Eastern Illinois, where as a quarterback he had 10,665 passing yards, then the third-highest total in NCAA Division I-AA history. The three-time AP All-American selection had professional stints with Chicago of the Arena Football League, Ottawa of the Canadian Football League and the Chicago Bears in 1987. Payton was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September of 2000.
Born Dec. 29, 1963 in San Mateo, Calif., and raised in Naperville, Ill., Payton and his wife, Beth, have a daughter, Meghan and a son, Connor.
Coaching History
| Year |
Team |
Notes |
| 1988-89 |
San Diego State |
|
| 1990-91 |
Indiana State |
|
| 1992-93 |
San Diego State |
Running Backs Coach |
| 1994-95 |
Miami (Ohio) |
Co-Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach |
| 1996 |
Illinois |
Quarterbacks Coach |
| 1997-98 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
Quarterbacks Coach |
| 1999 |
New York Giants |
Quarterbacks Coach |
| 2000-02 |
New York Giants |
Offensive Coordinator |
| 2003-04 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks |
| 2005 |
Dallas Cowboys |
Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator |
| 2006- |
New Orleans Saints |
Head Coach |
|