The first year of the Sean Payton era with the Denver Broncos taught us who wears the pants in the organization. Despite being a Super Bowl-winning quarterback on a $242 million contract, it’s not Russell Wilson.
Sure, Coach Payton has a Super Bowl ring, too, but he also had Drew Brees throwing darts with pinpoint accuracy and a defense that later got in trouble for the BountyGate, which resulted in several penalties and suspensions.
Nevertheless, Payton is back at the wheel with the Broncos, hoping to become the first NFL head coach to win a Super Bowl in two different organizations. Most head coaches, unless you’re Bill Belichick, don’t have complete control in the front office. Usually, there’s a general manager making hirings/firings and handling roster decisions.
Apparently, the Broncos have a unique structure with Coach Payton.
Sean Payton’s head coaching duties include ability to fire GM?
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Payton has the “final say” on whether general manager George Paton stays or leaves Denver this offseason. Paton was hired by the Broncos in 2021. A year later, he traded for Wilson. A year later, he hired Payton. Now, it could all come undone.
If the report is true, it’s a very unusual setup, but Payton is also one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches, so it’s no surprise to learn that he has more power than others around the league.