- Report: Miami Dolphins want to sign Christian Wilkins to extension before 2023 regular season
- Report: Tua Tagovailoa is ‘completely healthy’ and showing signs of growth as a leader
- Miami Dolphins insider offers latest scoop on team’s interest in Dalvin Cook
- Report: Miami Dolphins inquired about D’Andre Swift after Detroit Lions picked Jahmyr Gibbs
- Report: Dalvin Cook would like to play for Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills
- Travis Kelce thinks DeAndre Hopkins will end up with Miami Dolphins or Buffalo Bills
- Former Super Bowl champion believes DeAndre Hopkins will play for Miami Dolphins this season
- Mike McDaniel expresses confidence in Miami Dolphins making ‘good use’ of big bump in cap space
- Tyreek Hill playfully jabs at Jalen Ramsey after he celebrates Miami Heat advancing to NBA Finals
- Report: NFL teams believe Minnesota Vikings will release or trade Dalvin Cook
Report: Miami Dolphins among the teams Sean Payton would be interested in
- Updated: September 22, 2022
Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton indicated that among the jobs he might be interested in would be with the Miami Dolphins.
Sean Payton, the subject of Dolphins' affection last January, told NewOrleans. Football that "If the right situation presented itself,I would definitely be interested." Miami among teams that would interest him,associate said.But job won't be open; McDaniel is a heck of a coach.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 22, 2022
Payton’s comment presumably strikes most people as odd since he was rumored to be in line to replace Brian Flores as the Dolphins’ head coach last January. The rumor in question reportedly had Payton and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady coming to the Dolphins.
After that rumor surfaced, Payton said he had no knowledge of any such plan. For this year, he is working as part of the Fox NFL Sunday panel.
The Dolphins ultimately hired Mike McDaniel as their new head coach, a decision that’s begun with promise after two victories to start the 2022 season.
Also, the alleged plan to bring in Brady would have removed Tua Tagovailoa as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback. Following a brief retirement, Brady is again quarterbacking the Buccaneers, while Tagovailoa is coming off his best-ever NFL performance after throwing for 469 yards and six touchdowns.
Payton retired after last season after serving as head coach of the New Orleans Saints over 15 seasons. During the 2012 campaign, he was suspended for the entire year for his role in a bounty scandal that reportedly sought to injure players from other teams.
A Legacy of Success
Of course, there’s no guarantee that Payton will be hired by another team. However, his career record suggests that the 58-year-old mentor would have a strong calling card to obtain another head coaching job.
During those 15 years with the Saints, Payton compiled a solid record of 152-89, winning 10 or more games in nine different seasons. In each of those double-digit seasons, the Saints reached the postseason.
On three different occasions under Payton, the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game, winning in January 2010. Two weeks after that victory, they captured Super Bowl XLIV with a 31-17 upset win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Ten years ago today Tracy Porter's pick-6 sealed Super Bowl XLIV for the @Saints 🏆
(🎥 @NFL)pic.twitter.com/VF6oVMnzC2
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 7, 2020
It’s conceivable that a position in the Dolphins’ organization might develop that would allow Payton to join the team. As far as potential coaching opportunities with the Dolphins, Payton made his reputation on the offensive side of the ball.
The reality right now is that the Dolphins aren’t looking for a new head coach. That suggests that if Payton does return to coaching next year, it’s not likely to on the Dolphins’ sidelines.