Sean Payton coaching rumors: Former Saints coach could team up with Vic Fangio in 2023

Sean Payton retired from the NFL during the 2022 offseason after 16 seasons as the head coach of the Saints.

It appears that Payton's retirement is going to be short-lived.

Payton seems to be planning a return to coaching after spending a year as a TV analyst for Fox's NFL coverage. This isn't a major surprise, as the 58-year-old said at the time of his retirement that he would consider returning to coaching "if the right situation presented itself."

But what might that situation be, and who could join Payton's staff? Here are the latest news and updates on Payton's potential return to the NFL.

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Sean Payton coaching rumors

Payton is apparently excited to return to the field in 2023. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the veteran coach is already assembling an "all-star staff" for his next gig; that includes within it former Broncos coach Vic Fangio. 

Sean Payton is so interested in returning to coaching in the NFL that he's already putting together an all-star staff that includes former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio as his potential defensive coordinator, league sources told ESPN.

Fangio, 64, is regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the NFL. He has long been a strong defensive coordinator and he has head coaching experience, having posted a 19-30 record in three seasons in charge of the Broncos.

While his time in Denver didn't quite go as planned, Fangio's stop units were almost always good. And during his 22 seasons as an NFL coach and coordinator, Fangio has routinely had one of the league's top-ranked defenses.

Payton was already a top candidate on his own, but partnering with Fangio should only heighten the level of interest NFL teams have in hiring him.

And where exactly could that duo land? There will be plenty of options among potential openings.

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Sean Payton landing spots

Dallas Cowboys

It may seem strange to some that the Cowboys are on this list considering that they entered Week 16 with a 10-4 record. That said, Jerry Jones has put a lot of pressure on Mike McCarthy to mount not only a winning season but also to earn his first playoff win in his three seasons in charge of the team.

If McCarthy can't do that, then Jones could consider making a change — especially since he has such a strong relationship with Payton.

So, if the Cowboys job does come open, expect Payton to be the favorite to land it. However, Dallas is far from certain to pursue a new head coach and at this time, McCarthy should probably be favored to remain with the team for a fourth season.

Arizona Cardinals

Reports out of Arizona indicate that there are troubles between Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray. That could lead to the end of Kingsbury's four-year reign with the Cardinals, as Murray's five-year, $230.5 million contract is immovable given his recent ACL injury.

It's unclear whether Payton would have an interest in joining the Cardinals given that Murray's injury could sideline him for at least part of the 2023 NFL season. Still, Arizona has some intriguing pieces including DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Zach Ertz and Trey McBride, so that could be enough to convince Payton to take a chance on Murray making a speedy recovery.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have already moved on from Matt Rhule and will certainly be in on the Payton sweepstakes this offseason. If Payton wants a chance to face his former team twice per season, he could choose to join a Panthers team that is armed with plenty of early draft picks.

There are some roadblocks that could prevent Carolina from landing Payton. First, the Saints might not be willing to trade Payton — he remains under contract with New Orleans — to the Panthers.

Second, Payton may not be confident enough in the Panthers' offense to take the job. Outside of D.J. Moore, the team doesn't have too many weapons and is still searching for a starting quarterback.

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Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are in a similar situation to the Panthers. They have already fired their head coach and would probably like to pursue Payton. But would he want to go to a team that doesn't have an established quarterback? That remains to be seen.

New England Patriots

Here's an outside-the-box option for Payton. In the event that Bill Belichick decides he wants to retire from coaching, the Patriots could pursue Payton and sell him on the idea of joining a stable organization with a strong defense and a dynamic, workhorse running back in Rhamondre Stevenson.

Would Belichick actually call it quits? That seems unlikely, but it can't be ruled out entirely. So, the Patriots make the shortlist of good fits for Payton as a result.

New Orleans Saints

Here's one more strange option. Could Payton return to the Saints? Dennis Allen has struggled in his first season since replacing Payton, so maybe New Orleans would be willing to bring back their former coach to lead the team.

Of course, Payton may have retired to get away from the Saints, a team that is facing a rebuild of sorts. As such, it seems unlikely that he will return to the team.