Ex-Saints coach Sean Payton gives his honest take on returning to New Orleans

The Denver Broncos have a short turnaround this week. After hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Broncos now turn their attention toward a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints on the road on Oct. 17.

The game will mark Broncos coach Sean Payton’s return to Louisiana to face off against his former team that he won a Super Bowl with following the 2009 season. Payton coached the Saints from 2006-2021 before stepping down in 2022 with a 152-89 record.

After a year out of coaching, Payton landed in Denver in 2023 via trade. The 60-year-old coach was honest was asked about his return to New Orleans during a conference call with reporters on Monday.

“It will be unique,” Payton said. “One of the things we talk about with our players is trying to handle all this stuff ahead of time. I have a great wife whose tickets are done with, family, [and] my children. I think those around us know how challenging the short week is as compared to as if it was a full week. Certainly, there will be emotions going back there with players, but I do think that comes up quite a bit in our league. With players and in this case certainly the amount of time I was there, I understand it. We have to deal with the crowd noise. That place is loud, and you guys know that.

“Fortunately, it’s a short week because I haven’t had [a] chance to dive into all the other stuff. Drew [Brees] is going into their Hall of Fame. They also have a ring of honor, so that’s a separate event [and] soon the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I have already reached out to him, congratulated him and said, ‘This is the first of many.’ I say this, it’s about the game. It’s about the win. The significance of us playing our best football on a short week and it’s about our team. I’ll address that with them tomorrow morning and [say], ‘Hey, let’s understand the significance of getting our fourth win.’ I think that’s the No. 1 thing and then go from there.”

Payton admitted that his first thought is about getting a win, but his second thoguht is about Brees behing honored at halftime. Brees set numerous passing records while playing for Payton in New Orleans.

It will be an emotional night for Payton, but he doesn’t necessarily expect Saints fans to give him a warm welcome.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it,” Payton said.

After dropping to 3-3 with a 23-16 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, Payton and the Broncos will aim to get back on track against the Saints.

“Listen I can’t stand losing,” Payton said. “It’s about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on an early week and trying to play one of our better games.”

Thursday’s game against the Saints will be available to stream on Prime.