The return of Head Coach Sean Payton to the NFL is one of the most exciting topics of the upcoming offseason.

January 17 is a crucial date in the NFL in this still young year. Not only are the Divisional Round participants in the playoffs decided then. The day also marks the beginning of one of the most interesting and possibly also most protracted offseason storylines.

After weeks in which the rumour mill was already bubbling, Sean Payton – currently still under contract with the New Orleans Saints – is officially allowed to negotiate with interested teams about the position as head coach for the 2023 season.

Now the question is: What does Payton want? Who are the interested parties? And could it even come down to a hammer trade?

Sean Payton: What does he say about an NFL comeback?

Over the past few months, one thing has become very clear: Sean Payton definitely wants to return to the NFL as a head coach after his sabbatical as a TV analyst for “FOX Sports”. Both his statements and his actions point to this.

On the one hand, Payton himself said as recently as December that he was “defnitively interested” if “the right situation” presented itself to him. On the other hand, he is said to be already in the background – and without an agreement with a new team – putting together his staff for a comeback. According to ESPN, he has already acquired Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator.

So there is little doubt that Payton will return as head coach in 2023. The only question is: where will that be?

Sean Payton: Which teams are being considered?

Payton himself outlined what matters to him in a franchise back in September. “The most important element is the functioning cooperation between owners and the front office of a franchise,” he said.

This also explains why Payton – although it was said that he would meet with all interested teams without a head coach – is said to have ruled out an engagement with the Indianapolis Colts around owner Jim Irsay, who are so chaotic in 2022. This is reported by the portal “NewOrleans.Football”.

Besides the Colts, the Carolina Panthers are probably also out of the running. The reason could be a veto by the Saints, who will not give up their Super Bowl coach to a division rival.

Of the franchises that will be without a head coach after the end of the regular season, the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos remain. Payton will meet with all three franchises starting Tuesday, according to “NewOrleans.Football”.

The Broncos, however, already have several alternatives on the docket, according to “ESPN”. Denver, for example, has apparently already held talks with ex-Colts and ex-Lions coach Jim Caldwell and David Shaw. The 50-year-old resigned as head coach at the end of November after twelve years at Stanford College.

I’m willing to say all five teams with coach openings have called on Sean Payton and three have passed through so far.

– Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 12, 2023

Sean Payton’s NFL return: is there a favourite?

So the obvious group of candidates is clear: Cardinals, Texans and Broncos. Of the three teams, the Cardinals most closely fit Payton’s needs.

A more competitive team than the Broncos, warm weather, potentially more control over roster and staff after the firing of GM Steve Keim, and a potential high-scoring offense around Kyler Murray, who, however, will most likely need plenty of time to get fit after tearing his ACL.

The Texans will continue to be about a rebuild in 2023, and with the win over the Colts, Houston probably missed out on a solution for the quarterback situation that is indispensable for Payton in top pick Bryce Young.

But what about teams that currently have NO need in terms of a head coach? Here’s a look at Payton’s current home. As “ESPN” reports, Payton would like to stay in Los Angeles – and it is not so bad for him that Sean McVay is at least questioning his future with the Rams after this messed-up season.

If McVay does resign, Payton would be a no-brainer for the Rams despite the high salary and the Saints’ demand for at least a first-round pick – and, conversely, a highly attractive destination for Payton.

In the wake of Wild Card Weekend, moreover, another team could suddenly be in the draw. The question is: What happens to Mike McCarthy if the Dallas Cowboys are eliminated against the so far disappointing Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

McCarthy clearly missed the playoffs with the Cowboys in his first year as head coach also due to Dak Prescott’s serious injury. In his second year, he was eliminated in the Wild Card round against the San Francisco 49ers despite a strong record (12-5).

Should the Cowboys now fail again early in the playoffs, owner Jerry Jones might start to ponder. Rumours of this have been surfacing since the summer because Jones and Payton share both a friendship and a professional past. Payton was the Cowboys’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach from 2003 to 2005.

A trade of Payton to the Cowboys would be an absolute NFL quake – but probably also an extremely unlikely scenario. As things stand, the Cardinals probably have the best cards if nothing changes with McVay’s situation in Los Angeles.

Sean Payton: Is a return to the New Orleans Saints out of the question?

Completely out of the question for now, given his remaining contract through 2024 and the Saints’ poor season (7-10) under Payton’s former defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.

“Pro Football Talk even called an imminent return of the successful coach to New Orleans “the NFL’s worst-kept secret” at the end of last year.

However, a Saints return would make little sense for Payton given the abundance of alternatives. The salary cap and the fact that the Saints do not have a first-round pick in the draft make personnel improvements almost impossible.

On the other hand, New Orleans wants to give Allen another opportunity next season, according to “NBC. “

When can we expect a decision on Sean Payton?

Payton will take his time in making his decision and – as he said himself – listen to every interested party. It’s quite possible that one or two other franchises will join after the playoffs.

There would be something to be said for Payton officially ending his sabbatical on the anniversary of his retirement, January 25, and starting a new job. But that would probably come far too soon.

There may be no movement on the matter until Sean McVay in Los Angeles has also made up his mind about his future with the Rams.