There wasn't much for Denver Broncos fans to be excited about before head coach Sean Payton took over in January 2023, as the organization was coming off of six straight losing seasons. The team then went 8-9 in 2023, but has gone 24-10 over the last two regular seasons and made the AFC Championship in the 2025 campaign.
The offensive-minded Payton has been in charge for franchise quarterback Bo Nix's tenure, as Denver drafted him No. 12 overall in 2024. The 26-year-old has tallied 7,706 passing yards with 54 touchdowns and 23 interceptions on a 64.8% completion rare to go with 786 rushing yards (4.5 yards per carry) and nine scores on the ground.
The Broncos rewarded Payton on Thursday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"ESPN sources: The Broncos and Sean Payton have reached agreement on a new five-year contract," he reported. "Payton has led the Broncos to the third-most wins in the NFL over the past two years, including an AFC Championship Game appearance last season. Now, Broncos owner Greg Penner has both his HC and GM George Paton under contract through the 2030 season, with stability across his football operations."
Broncos Set Up for Sustained Success With Sean Payton
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
When teams give up premium draft picks, it's usually for established players and/or elite prospects. However, Denver sent a first and second-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for Payton in 2023, and he's justified that investment.
The Broncos have improved in total offense annually under Payton, ranking 26th in the NFL in 2023, 19th in 2024 and 10th in 2025. They also have the personnel to maintain that trajectory, as they acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins and re-signed running back J.K. Dobbins this offseason. Dobbins was eighth in the NFL with five yards per carry last year and Waddle was 26th with 14.2 yards per catch.
Payton's first NFL job was as a quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997 to 1998. He then served as a quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants in 1999 before being the offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2002. After that, he was the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2005 before serving as the Saints' head coach from 2006 to 2011 and 2013 to 2021. He won Super Bowl XLIV with New Orleans.
