Sean Payton delivers Pro Bowl-level non-answer after being asked about teaming up with Tom Brady in 2023
Sean Payton spent 15 seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Saints before retiring ahead of this season. The Super Bowl-winning head coach will be sought after as many teams will look to move on or have moved on from their head coaches. What's more, Payton might be looking to get a quarterback should he take one of the head coaching vacancies. One signal-caller's name being thrown out there is Tom Brady.
Brady is set to become a free agent after this season. Payton was asked by NFL insider Peter Schrager if Brady would be his quarterback come next season should he become a head coach again. Payton gave quite an interesting response to Schrager's question.
Payton said:
"There's too many variables in that equation. If we worked together ... I'm going to predict there's a good chance if we work together, it'll be with Fox."
A Tom Brady & Sean Payton package deal?
Hmm…
Coach and I discussed on “The Season with Peter Schrager” @nflnetwork @NFLMedia https://t.co/ETnwhcE5Qt
Payton was referring to Brady's deal to become the lead NFL analyst at Fox once the quarterback decides to retire. The 2006 AP Coach of the Year has worked at Fox this season as an in-studio analyst. The three-time NFL MVP has given no signs that he's hanging up the cleats following this season. At 45 years old, the question does remain if he has one more season left in him.
However, Payton and Tom Brady could've been a reality if it were up to the Miami Dolphins.
Sean Payton and Tom Brady to the Dolphins?
The Dolphins had illegal communications with Brady during the 2019-2020 season, while he was under contract with the New England Patriots. Those talks started as early as Aug. 2019 and continued for the duration of the 2019 - 2020 season and the playoffs.
During and after the 2021 - 2022 season, Miami once again had unsanctioned communications with both Brady and his agent, Don Yee. The seven-time Super Bowl winner was still was under contract with the Buccaneers at the time of these talks.
Those discussions commenced no later than early Dec. 2021 and were focused on Brady becoming a partner in the Dolphins franchise and possibly serving as an executive. Yet, they also incorporated the likelihood of him suiting up for the Dolphins. Miami then had impermissible communications with Yee, Sean Payton's agent as well, about having Payton become the Dolphins' head coach in January last year.
The Dolphins did not seek permission from the Saints to have these conversations, which happened before Sean Payton stated his decision to retire as the Saints head coach. Miami sought permission to speak to Sean Payton for the first time, which New Orleans rejected. In the end, Brady stayed with the Buccaneers and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was fined $1.5 million.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit The Season with Peter Schrager podcast and H/T Sportskeeda.