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Payton Mulls Hiring Belichick as Broncos Coach—Plan Falters

7/8/2026

46 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Payton Proposes Belichick

Broncos head coach Sean Payton considered offering Broncos owner Greg Penner a plan to hire Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as Denver’s head coach until he earned 15 wins and broke coach Don Shula’s 347-win record.
The proposal would have required Payton to step down to assistant head coach and run the offense while Belichick served as head coach.
The plan never materialized because it proved too complicated and fanciful.

Summary

Payton Misses Belichick

Payton said he misses Bill Belichick’s NFL absence and hopes the Super Bowl champion returns as head coach.
After the Giants fired Brian Daboll, the team linked Belichick to the job, noted his lack of interest, and hired John Harbaugh.
Payton and Belichick once spent a multi-day fishing trip and held four joint practices without incident.

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Payton Proposes Belichick

Broncos head coach Sean Payton considered offering Broncos owner Greg Penner a plan to hire Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as Denver’s head coach until he earned 15 wins and broke coach Don Shula’s 347-win record.
The proposal would have required Payton to step down to assistant head coach and run the offense while Belichick served as head coach.
The plan never materialized because it proved too complicated and fanciful.

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