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Sean Payton is prepping for his first season as the Denver Broncos’ head coach. It will represent his first season back in the NFL since coach with the Saints in 2021.
While in New Orleans, Payton was considered one of the sport’s top offensive minds. His units ranked top five in the NFL in scoring 10 times, twice leading the league.
Much of that production came with future Hall of Famer Drew Brees under center. Now, he’ll have another notable signal caller at his disposal in the Mile High City.
Russell Wilson came to Denver last offseason following an All-Pro career in Seattle. Unfortunately, his first year with the Broncos didn’t go according to plan.
Wilson completed a career-low 60.5% of his attempts, throwing for just 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Denver went 5-12, leading to the change at head coach.
That drop-off in success, combined with the most cringeworthy personality in all of sports, led fans to troll the quarterback time and time again in 2022.
That trolling has trickled into 2023, with Wilson’s new coach jumping in on the action.
Sean Payton gave his passer a hard time over a recent golf cart incident where a vehicle transporting Wilson toppled over on the course.
UPDATE: According to someone there, this was Thursday and Russ wasn’t driving, just in the cart:
“They were reversing because the cart locked up and were too close to the edge and it tumbled in. Their teammates ran over to pick it up and push it out of the bunker 😂” pic.twitter.com/XoiUtGjBE8
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) April 17, 2023
During an NFL Pre-Draft presser, Payton jabbed at Wilson for the golf cart accident while discussing the team’s offseason.
“I don’t want the players to feel like they’re pulling into the parking lot coming to football practice in April,” Payton said. “That’s just not happening. So it’s great to see these guys around. Hopefully we can keep the golf carts upright. But uh, yeah, no meetings, just weight room and running.”
Luckily, no one was hurt in the snafu.
Jokes aside, the new head coach will have his hands full in turning around an offense that ranked dead last in scoring last year (16.9 PPG).
Sean Payton enters as somewhat of a quarterback whisperer, with a track record of putting up quality production at the position that rivals any NFL coach. If anyone can flip the script, it’s him.