The Denver Broncos and Houston Texas On Tuesday, they discussed the identity of their new head coach.
BREAKING: Saints and Broncos are finalizing compensation in return for Super Bowl-winning HC Sean Payton, sources tell ESPN. This clears the way for Payton to sign with the Broncos to become Denver’s next head coach.
And so Peyton is expected to head to Denver as the next HC. pic.twitter.com/HA4RAtE6P8
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2023
According to ESPN, the Broncos have agreed to a compensation agreement with Sean Payton’s former team New Orleans SaintsHe won the Super Bowl in the 2009 season. The Broncos reportedly receive Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third-round draft pick in the deal. New Orleans gets Denver’s 2023 first-round pick (No. 30) and the Broncos’ 2024 second-round pick.
Meanwhile, Houston Texas confirmed They have reached an agreement with DiMeco Ryans to become the new head coach. Ryan won widespread acclaim as the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers.
The 38-year-old played for the Texans for six seasons after being selected in the second round of the 2006 draft. As a linebacker with the team, he won Defensive Player of the Year and was selected to two Pro Bowls. As a coach, he distinguished himself as a defensive mastermind: under his leadership, the 49ers were the best of the year. NFL in points and yards allowed this past season.
San Francisco has been good against the run with Ryans defensive coordinator, holding teams to 77.7 yards per carry, second in the league. That’s a stark contrast to Houston’s run defense, which ranks dead last in the NFL this season allowing 170.2 yards. The Texans haven’t had a winning season since 2019, but they have the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft and Cleveland’s first-round picks in 2023 and 2024 after acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Browns last year.
“For many reasons, DiMeco is everything we’ve been looking for in a leader and coach for our organization,” Texans owner Cal McNair said in a statement. “He has a proven track record of developing high-quality players over the past six seasons in San Francisco and has continually innovated his defense.
“We started this process with the intention of finding someone that our fans and our city would be proud of and we have done that. We’ve had incredible feedback and support for Dimeco from so many different people in our conversations with him and his vision for our football team has made him the right coach for us to continue to evolve as an organization.
Ryan’s appointment means the Texans are the first NFL team in history to hire three consecutive black head coaches.
While the same thing happened to the Saints when he became head coach in 2006, Payton inherits a struggling team. Alongside future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees, Payton led the Saints to the playoffs nine times and the NFC South title. Seven occasions.
Payton remains under contract with New Orleans after being released from the Saints last offseason and working in the broadcast this offseason.
The Broncos, who went 5-12 this season and extended their playoff drought to seven years, fired rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett in December after going 4-11. Interim manager Jerry Rosberg won 1-1.
Payton’s main task will be to get quarterback Russell Wilson back to winning ways after the 11-year pro had his worst statistical season for four premium draft picks and three players after a blockbuster trade from Seattle.
The Broncos traded their first and second round picks to the Seahawks for Wilson. They traded pass rusher Roger Bradley Chubb back to the Miami Dolphins in the first round, which sent the Broncos a first-round pick. San Francisco 49ers. That choice now belongs to the Saints.