Denver Broncos Set Interview Date for Former New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton

The Denver Broncos will have the first shot at perhaps the most coveted head coach candidate of the offseason. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Broncos will meet with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on Tuesday.

Denver is scheduled to be the first team this month to have an in-person head-coach interview with Sean Payton, per source. The Broncos and Payton are scheduled to meet Tuesday morning in Los Angeles.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2023

Payton retired following the 2021 season after 15 seasons with the Saints. Payton led the team to easily its most fruitful and glorious era, bringing them 10 winning seasons, nine top-five scoring offenses, and a Super Bowl victory following the 2009 season.

The Broncos are desperate to make the most of quarterback Russell Wilson after a disastrous first season that saw the team rank dead last in points scored. The franchise invested enormous draft capital and significant guaranteed money for the former Seahawk, and tailoring a functional offense around him should be the team's sole priority this offseason. Payton maximized similarly diminutive quarterback Drew Brees in New Orleans.

Payton technically remains under contract with the Saints, so acquiring him will likely require the Broncos to give up meaningful assets, not to mention a sizeable contract. When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers procured Jon Gruden from the Oakland Raiders in 2002, they gave up two first-round and two second-round picks. Payton is significantly more accomplished.