The New Orleans Saints won't be in the market for a new head coach after all. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Sean Payton will remain with the franchise.
Sean Payton will remain Saints coach.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2016
After days of deliberation, I'm told that #Saints coach Sean Payton isn't going anywhere. He and GM Mickey Loomis agreed he's staying. Wow — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2016
Of course, others in the media painted a slightly less rosy picture of things, but either way, it sounds like Payton is staying put despite a bevy of rumors and reports throughout the season, leading up to Wednesday's announcement.
Payton: “This is where I plan on coaching. I don't envision myself coaching any other club” #Saints pic.twitter.com/ArjaKIh60k — New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 6, 2016
Payton has been the head coach in New Orleans since the 2006 season. Along with quarterback Drew Brees, he's helmed the franchise to an 87-57 record and a Super Bowl XLIV victory.
He's also led the Saints to three first-place finishes in the NFC South and taken the team to the playoffs five out of the nine seasons he's been at the tiller.
With the uncertain ownership in New Orleans, thanks to the in-fighting in the Benson family and Brees' ballooning salary, Payton was said to be possibly heading elsewhere after this season, despite the fact that he had two years remaining on his deal.
The Saints and GM Mickey Loomis were even said to be considering dealing Payton to another team, though the asking price of a second-round draft pick probably scared off any potential suitors.
With Payton remaining in place, the rest of the offseason in New Orleans becomes a lot simpler. Brees' situation is one that still needs to be dealt with, as does finding a way to fix what was once Rob Ryan's moribund defensive unit, but Payton coming back probably provides quite a bit of hope for Saints fans in 2016.
