Sean Payton is in the thick of rebuilding the Denver Broncos.
The offensive-minded head coach has rebuilt the receiver room, drafted a new quarterback in Bo Nix, and added to the running back room as well.
But, following the fallout of the Russell Wilson drama last year, Payton was labeled as a “bully” by some local and national media members. That suggests he has some work to do in terms of leading the locker room, which is key to coaching.
Where does Sean Payton rank among current NFL coaches?
Sean Payton continues to be highly regarded in terms of his offensive prowess, and some of what will define his legacy rests on if he can rebuild the Broncos. At the very least, can he get them back to the playoffs?
Denver’s on an unprecedented run in terms of playoff droughts. The eight seasons since making the postseason is the longest run in the franchise’s history in the NFL.
It’s almost crazy to think the last time the Broncos were in the playoffs, they were winning Super Bowl 50. But, here we are. And unless something magical happens this year, Denver will likely extend that streak to nine years.
With training camp set to kick off in just over a week, national media members are weighing in with their coaching rankings. Let’s explore where Sean Payton lands, and how he compares to other AFC West coaches.
CBS Sports: 18th
According to CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, Sean Payton is the 18th-best head coach going into the 2024 season.
It’s no surprise to see Kansas City Chiefs’ head man Andy Reid at No. 1, but what is surprising is Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers at No. 7 overall. Reid just led the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl win in five years, and Kansas City will be among the favorites to win again this year.
But Harbaugh hasn’t been in the NFL since 2014. He has a ton to prove this year in terms of translating college coaching success to the pros.
Antonio Pierce of the Raiders ranked 28th in Benjamin’s list.
NBC Sports’ RotoPat: 13th
Payton enjoyed a much higher ranking by RotoPat, coming in at 13th. He wrote:
After an offseason prep that consisted of signing a few former Saints and making it plain he loathed his supposed franchise quarterback Russell Wilson, Payton began the year 0-2 with concerning setbacks to second-division sides Las Vegas and Washington. That was just the warmup for the most embarrassing NFL loss in years, Denver’s 70-20 throttling at the hands of the Dolphins in Week 3. That seemed to re-awaken Payton’s competitive juices after his one-season FOX sinecure, though success was relative. The Broncos finished on an 8-6 “run” only by tying Wilson’s hand behind his back. Payton’s offense was not dynamic, and he seemed preoccupied by what his players couldn’t do instead of what they could. NFL second acts have a long tradition of going poorly. Payton’s 2023 wasn’t even that bad by the dismal standards of the Mike Ditka past. But Payton’s takeaway needs to be a willingness to change rather than a vengeance to double down.
It’s a tough, but fair review of 2023 for Sean Payton and where the Broncos stand going into this year.
Warren Sharp: 18th
Again, we seen Sean Payton ranked at No. 18 overall, this time by Warren Sharp.
And again wee see Jim Harbaugh ranked just above Payton, despite a decade-long stint at the NCAA level, away from the NFL.
Sharp wrote:
Sean Payton dropped nine spots in our rankings. He appears to be falling behind, as most older coaches do. Only 11.8% of the Broncos’ first or second down plays were thrown past the first-down marker, the league’s third-lowest rate. That type of conservative approach gets you nowhere in this era.
Also of note, in the anonymous player surveys that happen in the offseason, Sean Payton earned an A-. From the survey, 72% of players believe Payton is efficient with their time, which ranks 27th. And he ranks 24th when it comes to listening to players in the locker room.