Sean Payton is still searching for his next coaching job in the NFL, and he shared a quick update on that process during an appearance on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show. The former New Orleans Saints head coach acknowledged how slowly things have played out so far but noted he expects things to pick up soon.
When asked if he thinks the door is closed on a return to the sidelines in 2023, Payton was adamant: “No, no, no, no. There’s a handful of things still taking place for these coaches and myself.”
After all, he isn’t the only coach interviewing with teams. There are a couple of coaches whose teams will get eliminated during Sunday’s conference championship games and become available. Some teams want to wait and give them an opportunity to interview about those jobs before making a move.
But Payton is watching the clock closely. He added, “I think in the next week we’re going to know a lot more.”
The Carolina Panthers are the only team that has hired a new head coach so far, having brought former Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich into the fold, though the Houston Texans are focusing on San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. That leaves the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals jobs still up for the taking, and Payton is reportedly in the mix for both of those vacancies.