Recent rumors speculate that there was a “grand plan” to unite Tom Brady and Sean Payton as a QB-head coach combo for the Miami Dolphins after each of their respective retirements earlier this offseason.
Payton has since denied any knowledge of that plan, per Miami insider Barry Jackson.
The longtime Saints leader said he would’ve stayed in New Orleans had he wanted to continue coaching in 2022.
“If I had been ready to coach this year, I would’ve stayed in New Orleans,” Payton said when talking to reporters after the Zurich Classic celebrity shootout on Wednesday. “It’s nice to have someone interested… and that’s about it.
“Our focus on Tom Brady has been beating him, not joining him.”
Sean Payton denies any knowledge of a grand plan to unite him with Tom Brady on Dolphins this year (a grand plan that obviously isn’t happening). And Payton says he would have stayed with Saints if he wanted to coach this season. https://t.co/bShQIiPEPi
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) April 19, 2022
The NFL world took to Twitter to react to this news.
Some aren’t too convinced that Payton is telling the truth.
“He didn’t admit to anything at a random golf interview so he must be telling the truth,” one fan wrote sarcastically.
Sure Jan. https://t.co/IgXr4kLwpf
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) April 19, 2022
https://t.co/C2PUwxbeJC pic.twitter.com/vHe5bMeACL
— Jeff Moehring (@JeffMoDEAN) April 19, 2022
Payton retired from coaching after the 2021 season following a 15-year head coaching stint with the Saints. While many speculated that the veteran leader could return as the head coach of a new organization in 2022, that possibility has since been debunked.
Earlier this week, Payton confirmed that he’s likely to take a sports broadcasting gig for the 2022 NFL season.
Tom Brady is set to return for his third year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this coming season.
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