There might not be a bigger name in the NFL coaching rumor mill than Sean Payton. At least one team is jumping into the mix to hire him. that the Broncos had received permi sion from the Saints to interview Payton, adding that no team can speak in person with the former New Orleans coach until at least Jan. 17. followed up late Saturday with a report that Payton already had spoken with Broncos ownership Khris Davis Jersey by phone, and Payton confirmed that Sunday morning on Fox."Denver's the first team, and I was able to have a conversation with their owner," Payton said.Yesterday, the Broncos reached out to the Saints to inquire about their former HC Sean Payton. discu ses the situation and his po sible return to the NFL FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) Asked whether having a quarterback in place was the key factor in determining whether Payton would return to the sidelines, and where, he said the pieces above him in the hierarchy are a higher priority."I think that it's really about the triangular relationship: ownership, front office head coach," he said. "When we went to New Orleans and I say we, because there were a lot of people involved the quarterback was unsettled at that time. So I think ownership and the functionality of the front office is most important."MORE: There is no guarantee Payton Santiago Casilla Jersey will return to the NFL, but he has been connected to a number of head coach openings since his retirement after the 2021 season, and Denver could be a desirable destination.Schefter previously reported Payton has for his next head coaching stint. It won't be as simple as offering Payton a contract, however. Before he retired, Payton signed an extension with the Saints to keep him in New Orleans until 2024. If another team wants to make him their head coach, they Dennis Eckersley Jersey would need to work out a trade with the Saints.The Saints hired Dennis Allen to replace Payton starting in 2022, and that there is no reason to believe the team would want to move on from him at the end of the year. A trade for Payton would, in e sence, give New Orleans a free a set.Asked Sunday whether any teams would be off-limits in terms of the Saints agreeing to trade his rights, Payton said he didn't think so and ran down a list Kendall Graveman Jersey of previous coaches who had switched teams while under contract, including Bill Parcells moving from the Patriots to the Jets in 1997."This has happened, not a lot, but a handful of times," Payton said, "and it's happened within the division and it's happened outside the division."MORE: The Broncos on Dec. 26. Hackett previously was the Packers' offensive coordinator. There were lofty expectations for the team in 2022 after Denver acquired quarterback Ru sell Wilson in a trade with the Seahawks. Wilson was considered the biggest mi sing piece for a team that went 7-10 in 2021.Instead, the Broncos took a major step back, falling to 4-12 and having the worst offense in the league (16 points per game) heading into Week 18. Wilson has turned in the worst season of his career: his 13 touchdown pa ses are seven fewer than his previous career low, and his 10 interceptions mark just the fifth time in his 11-year career that he has exceeded double digits.Would Payton be enough to turn Denver around? If any coach can, it might be him. Oakland Athletics Custom Jersey He is 23rd on the NFL's all-time coaching wins list and has an overall record of 152-89. When he left the Saints, he had posted five straight winning seasons and had made the playoffs in four of those years.