It appears Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is actively recruiting the coaching candidate of his choice this winter.
As shared by Tzvi Machlin of The Spun, Fox Sports personality Colin Cowherd reported during Thursday’s edition of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” that Wilson has contacted former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton about accepting the Denver gig.
According to Mike Klis of 9News, the Broncos interviewed Payton for roughly two hours on Tuesday, and Klis added that “there is sincere mutual interest in each other” following that meeting.
“They believe in Denver (that) Sean can fix it,” Cowherd explained. “Sean, I know, can fix it. And Russell Wilson has contacted Sean – legally, by the way – he wants Sean Payton. He needs fixing.”
The Saints hold Payton’s coaching rights through 2024 and are looking for compensation from clubs this offseason.
Payton may need convincing to take the Broncos job, especially if he’s unable to name his own general manager and instead has to work with George Paton. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported last week that he was “starting to believe Denver might want Payton more than he wants them,” and there continue to be rumblings about Payton potentially linking up with Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady after they failed to join the Miami Dolphins last year.
A Payton-Brady union likely isn’t happening in Denver since the Broncos and Wilson agreed to a five-year, $245 million contract extension with $165 million guaranteed last summer.
The Seattle Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos last March, and his first season with Denver was nothing short of a disaster both on and off the field. Per ESPN, the 34-year-old ended the regular season 27th among 31 qualified quarterbacks with a 37.0 total QBR. He was 31st with a 60.5% completion percentage and finished with 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in 15 games.
Denver posted a miserable 5-12 record.
Payton may be able to “fix” Wilson’s playing woes, but it’s unknown if the 59-year-old is interested in helping the signal-caller repair any relationships that need mending.
