Sean Payton Will Remain Saints Head Coach

Update:

Sean Payton confirmed the news that he’s staying in New Orleans on Wednesday.

“I understand the interest and skepticism, but this is where I plan on coaching,” Payton said, per Evan Woodbery. “I don’t envision myself coaching anywhere else.”

Payton stressed that they will need to do a great job with this year’s draft and personnel-wise.

• Jason La Canfora mentions that Payton’s status could certainly change in the future, contractually or otherwise, but for now it’s status quo.
• La Canfora reports that there wasn’t a lot stirring in regards to Payton outside of the 49ers.
• According to Armando Salguero, Payton was open to leaving New Orleans, but the level of interest in him, after factoring in compensation,wasn’t what he thought it would be.
• Ian Rapoport reports that  Payton was open enough to reference GM Mickey Loomis researching compensation for a potential “coach trade.” Rapoport adds that “it got real” in regards to a trade.

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Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Sean Payton will remain Saints head coach.

• According to Rapoport, both Payton and Saints GM Mickey Loomis both agreed that he’ll remain with the team after days of deliberation.
• Rapoport adds that Loomis was “incredibly persuasive” in keeping Payton with the team.

Reports have been all over the place in the past few weeks regarding Payton his future in New Orleans. Payton’s name came up in numerous trade scenarios since teams began making changes to their coaching staffs and front offices with the Giants, Dolphins, Eagles, and 49ers all being mentioned as potential landing spots for the head coach.

However, it appears as though he and the Saints agreed that it was best for him to remain in place as the team’s head coach for the foreseeable future and continue to rebuild their roster.

Payton, 51, is under contract through the 2017 season, and stands to make $8 million per year in his current agreement. He has lead the Saints to a record of 84-53 (61.3 percent) including their only Super Bowl title over the course of eight-plus seasons in New Orleans.