When Sean Payton arrived on the Front Range this offseason intent on turning around the Broncos, he embarked upon a challenge that has eluded every Super Bowl-winning coach who preceded him.
Since the AFL and NFL merged in 1966, a total of 35 coaches have led their teams to at least one Super Bowl title. While 14 of those have gone on to coach another franchise later in their careers, none have raised the Lombardi Trophy with another team — or, in the case of Payton’s mentor Bill Parcells, three other teams.
Thus, in taking over the Broncos after a 15-year run in New Orleans that included a Super Bowl XLIV win, Payton is attempting to make history.