Add The New York Post on Google Sean Payton almost turned the NFL upside down in 2024.
After watching legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick leave New England following the 2023 season, Payton wanted Belichick to serve as the Broncos head coach while he’d become an assistant, according to ESPN.
While the idea didn’t come to fruition, Payton wanted to give Belichick the opportunity to break Don Shula’s all-time record of wins by a coach with 347.
Following 2023, Belichick was second all-time with 333 career wins, and Payton thought the Broncos would’ve helped Belichick get 15 wins and the record.
Payton considered pitching the idea to Broncos owner Greg Penner, but the proposal didn’t get that far in the end and became “too complicated,” per ESPN. Due to Belichick needing 15 wins, it may’ve required a multi-year commitment.
Even though the idea didn’t end up becoming reality, it likely wasn’t out of the realm of possibility due to the strong relationship between Payton and Belicheck.
Early in their careers, both coaches worked under Bill Parcells.
“He’s one of the best,” Belichick told reporters about Payton in 2023. “We had a common experience through Bill Parcells. We’ve both been yelled at a lot. We share a lot in common there.”
Though he won’t beat Shula’s record unless he returns to the NFL, Belichick built a historic legacy over 24 years as the Patriots head coach.
He won six Super Bowls while helping form a dynasty with quarterback Tom Brady. He won Coach of the Year three times. He guided the Patriots to the playoffs in nearly every season.
There’s not much else to say about Belichick.
In Payton’s ideal world, Belichick would’ve taken over as the Broncos coach after they went 8-9 in 2023, a year headlined by Russell Wilson controversy and a 1-5 start.
After a rocky first season, Payton helped the Broncos make the playoffs for the first time in nine years in 2024 by going 10-7.
In 2025, the Broncos defense emerged into one of the league’s top units as the team went 14-3 and cruised to the AFC Championship.
The Broncos enter 2026 with Super Bowl aspirations, and start their season Sept. 14 at the Chiefs.
