Last month, former NFL head coach turned ESPN analyst Rex Ryan caused a brief stir connecting Sean Payton to the Washington Commanders and the team’s potential new ownership. Payton has since gotten hired as the Denver Broncos head coach. Many scoffed at Ryan but his notion of Payton in Washington was not far off.
Payton appeared on Mad Dog Sports Radio. Speaking with Adam Schein, Payton admitted that he got approached by potential buyers to become head coach of the Washington Commanders.
“Everyone’s waiting to see what happens in Washington. There’s some interest from some potential ownership groups that are going to be bidding on, that have currently bid on that team, that were getting ahead of the game saying, ‘Hey, if we get awarded this team would you?’ And so there were a lot of different things at play,” Payton said.
To note, Ryan also linked seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady with Payton in Washington. It’s unclear if Brady was part of the “lot of different things at play,” Payton mentioned.
Commanders owner Dan Snyder has been exploring options of selling the team since November. Josh Harris, the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, has emerged as a favorite to buy the team. Meanwhile, there are expectations that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos could swoop in and outbid any potential suitors.
Washington fans have long clamored for Snyder to sell the team. Payton’s admittance is refreshing for fans that the potential next owner could be thinking big about getting the once-proud organization back on track.
“That’s a place that’s had great tradition,” Payton said. “Like, when I came into the league, Adam, my first two years were Philly. My next four years were New York Giants. And then my next three were the Cowboys. My whole entire NFL career prior to New Orleans was NFC East. And what happened to that program?”
That tradition made Payton think about the Commanders before ultimately deciding on the Broncos.
“Listen, that place, my uncle loved the Washington franchise,” Payton added. “Last year, we go there to play and pregame, I’m looking up in the crowd. A third of the fans are Saints fans. And I’m like, what happened to this place? That was one of the six pillars… That was a special place. So it’ll come back.”
Sean Payton certainly gave the Commanders a thought or two. Too bad for Washington fans that he did not wait out the sale process. However, one thing is clear, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera may be on the hot seat. The interest in Payton shows a potential owner may be looking to make a splash with a new head coach if the Commanders get sold.
