The Denver Broncos made the first real big splash of this NFL offseason, acquiring head coach Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday.
Denver yielded a first-round pick (29th overall) and a 2023 second-round selection to New Orleans for the Super Bowl-winning head coach.
It stood to reason that Payton would get paid handsomely to return to the NFL sidelines after spending last season with Fox Sports.
We now have more information on Sean Payton’s contract details with the Broncos. It is a doozy. According to Mike Klis of 9New.com, Denver’s new head coach is expected to earn between $17 million to $20 million annually over the course of five years.
As reports surfaced last last year that Payton was considering a return to coaching, most figured that he’d be lured back with an absolutely huge contract. That is now the case.
In being tasked with turning around a franchise that has not earned a playoff spot since back in 2015, he’ll now become one of the highest-paid coaches in the professional sports world.
Related: Winners and losers from Sean Payton trade
Sean Payton contract and comparison to other NFL head coaches
Having flirted with resigning himself after a down 2022 season, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is the only figure at this position who compares to Payton’s new deal. He’s said to be earning between $15 million and $18 million per season.
Amazingly, six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots would now come in at third — earning $12.5 million per season. Here’s how the top of the list of NFL’s highest-paid head coaches plays out.
- Sean Payton, Denver Broncos: $17-$20 million
- Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams: $15-18 milion
- Bill Belichick, New England Patriots: $12.5 million
- Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks: $11 million
- Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers: $9.5 million
The task will be tall for Payton. Denver finished last season with a mere four wins. It fired Nathaniel Hackett before he had even completed his first campaign in Mile High. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Russell Wilson is coming off a career-worst performance.
At the very least, Denver is paying Payton top-of-the-line money to help turn around this sinking ship.