Report: Denver Broncos receive permission to interview Sean Payton for head coach opening

The Denver Broncos are kicking the tires on head coaching candidates. Denver has received permission to interview former New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

Payton didn’t coach this year after stepping down as Saints head coach following the 2021 season. He worked as an analyst for FOX, but his name has come up in coaching circles already this year after some mid-season turnover across the NFL.

During his time with the Saints, Payton amassed a 152-89 record from 2006-11 and 2013-21. He missed the 2012 season as a result of the “Bountygate” scandal and spent that year as the offensive coordinator at Liberty Christian School, where his son played.

The NFL said the Broncos can’t interview Payton in-person until Jan. 17 at the earliest, Schefter said. However, they have permission to speak with him as they embark on their search to replace Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired 15 games into his tenure. Denver takes a 4-12 record into its season finale this week against the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

The Broncos are leaving no stone unturned in their coaching search, though, even reaching out to Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported. Harbaugh, however, recently appeared to reaffirm his commitment to staying at his alma mater despite the rumors connecting him to multiple NFL coaching opportunities. Another team that reportedly expressed interest was the Carolina Panthers, and Harbaugh spoke with owner David Tepper in what was described as a conversation rather than an interview.

It wasn’t the year Broncos fans envisioned, especially with the addition of Russell Wilson in the offseason. Denver was 4-11 under Hackett, the former Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator, and Wilson has completed 60.8% of his passes for 3,241 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first season after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks.