There’s been a ton of speculation surrounding where former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will land after he retired from coaching after the 2021 season. Instead of opting for one of the vacant coaching jobs, Payton took a gig at FOX Sports, where he’ll be an in-studio analyst during the 2022 NFL season.
In an interview with Jarrett Bell of USA Today, the 58-year-old didn’t completely shut the door on returning to coaching if the right opportunity presents itself.
“Ultimately, do I think I’ll get back in? Sure,” Payton said. “There’s no way to predict who that club might be,” he added. “Usually, there are about six openings every year. If there’s a right fit somewhere, that ultimately will depend on several factors.”
According to a recent report from the Miami Herald, a source who’s close to Payton said if he were to return to coaching, it would more than likely be in a warm weather environment with a good roster and the ability to make personnel decisions.
The report also indicated that the Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, and Los Angeles Chargers are some of the teams Payton is reportedly interested in the most. The Dolphins have been linked to Payton for quite some time, admitting that the team contacted him when he was still under contract with the Saints but his request was denied.
