NFL: Saints fill head coach vacancy with hire of former Dallas assistant Sean Payton
Loomis hire takes over as the 14th Head Coach in Club History
The New Orleans Saints have hired Sean Payton as Head Coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. Payton, who served as Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, has forged a reputation throughout his NFL coaching career for bringing a disciplined, high-energy approach to the game and building productive offensive attacks.
"Sean is the right fit for our organization from every perspective -- leadership, discipline, game-planning, relating to players and developing talent," said Loomis. "We took our time to find the coach who will take us forward, and we interviewed several impressive candidates. But Sean's experience and the success he has had made him the coach we targeted, and we're excited to have him in New Orleans."
The 42-year old Payton enters his 10th season as an NFL coach.
"During our meeting, I was impressed with Sean's attention to detail and work ethic, and his desire to work together with the entire organization as we move forward," said Owner Tom Benson. "I am pleased Mickey went through this process so thoroughly and I am very confident Sean is ready to take this step in his career. With this hire, we have put a staff in place that will be successful on the field and be a club the fans in New Orleans can be proud of for many years to come."
Payton has been a key member of Bill Parcells' coaching staff in Dallas since 2003. After starting with the Cowboys initially as Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach, he was promoted by Parcells to Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator prior to last season.
"I think New Orleans fans will find Sean to be a bright and energetic coach who will work very hard to improve the fortunes of the Saints," said Parcells. "I know he will be diligent and determined, and the organization will get the best he has at all times."
Before joining Parcells in Dallas, Payton was offensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2000-02, promoted to that position by former Coach Jim Fassel after serving as the Giants' quarterbacks coach in 1999. He was also the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997-98, working with then-coordinator and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden.
"Sean has had success at every stop and he has worked with some of the top coaches in the game," said Loomis. "But what was particularly impressive is that he's taken these influences and created his own philosophy and approach on what it takes to be a successful head coach."
Payton has polished the talents of several quarterbacks during his stint in the NFL, both veterans and young signal-callers. Since 2000, each passer under his guidance has thrown for at least 3,300 yards. With the Cowboys, Payton guided three different quarterbacks -- Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 -- to seasons of over 3,000 yards passing. In 2005, Bledsoe completed 300 of 499 passes for 3,639 yards and 23 touchdowns. The yardage total ranks third in club history and the veteran quarterback posted an 83.7 passer rating, among the best of his career.
"Sean is a very smart coach," said Bledsoe. "He is an exceptional play-caller and a creative game-planner. I'm going to miss him, as is the rest of our team, but I know he is deserving of this opportunity. The Saints organization is lucky to have him as their head coach, and I'm certain he'll have a positive long-term impact on their team."
Also in 2005, the Cowboys had the NFL's 13th-ranked offense, with WR Terry Glenn recording 62 receptions for 1,136 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. TE Jason Witten had 66 grabs for 757 yards and six TDs, ranking second in the NFC among tight ends.
While in New York, Payton worked with QB Kerry Collins and the passer's NFL career reached new heights. Collins had a career-high and club-record 4,073 yards in 2002 as the Giants finished sixth in the league in offense. In 2001, Collins completed 327 of 568 attempts for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns as New York posted the league's eighth-ranked passing attack.
Under Payton, Collins became one of the most productive quarterbacks in Giants history, standing third on the team's career list in pass attempts (1,973), third in completions (1,163), fourth in passing yards (13,765) and fifth in touchdown passes (68) before Payton's departure. Collins set an NFL record by becoming the first quarterback in league history to throw each of his team's passes in consecutive seasons (2000-2001).
Payton solidified his reputation as one of the NFL's brightest offensive coaches in 2000 when the Giants went 12-4 and captured the NFC Championship in his first full season as offensive coordinator. With Payton forming game plans and calling plays, the Giants scored 328 points, the team's highest total since the 1990 Super Bowl Champions had 335.
The Giants' rushing yardage jumped from 24th to 11th in the NFL, sparking a rise from 17th to 13th in total offense.
In 2000, Collins established then career-highs as the Giants captured the NFC Championship and went to Super Bowl XXXV. During Payton's stint in New York, WR Amani Toomer caught 311 passes and became the first player in team history to record four-straight seasons of 70-plus receptions and over 1,000 yards. And RB Tiki Barber emerged as one of the NFL's top rushers under Payton's guidance, including finishing second in the NFC with 1,387 rushing yards in 2002.
Payton wrapped two coaching stints at San Diego State University (1988-89 and 1992-93) around a stop at Indiana State (1990-91). During his second stretch with the Aztecs, Payton served as the running backs coach initially, working directly with Heisman Trophy runner-up RB Marshall Faulk before becoming the quarterbacks coach the following year Following the 1993 season, Payton moved to Miami of Ohio (1994-95) where he was the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. He spent the 1996 season as quarterbacks coach at Illinois prior to entering the NFL with Philadelphia.
Payton earned a degree in communications at Eastern Illinois, where as a quarterback he posted 10,665 passing yards. After leading Division I-AA in passing in 1986, the three-time Associated Press All-American had stints with Chicago of the Arena Football League, Ottawa of the Canadian Football League and the Chicago Bears in 1987. Payton was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September of 2000.
Born Dec. 29, 1963, Payton and his wife, Beth, have two children: daughter, Meghan, and son, Connor Thomas.
The New Orleans Saints have hired Sean Payton as Head Coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis. Payton, who served as Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, has forged a reputation throughout his NFL coaching career for bringing a disciplined, high-energy approach to the game and building productive offensive attacks.
"Sean is the right fit for our organization from every perspective -- leadership, discipline, game-planning, relating to players and developing talent," said Loomis. "We took our time to find the coach who will take us forward, and we interviewed several impressive candidates. But Sean's experience and the success he has had made him the coach we targeted, and we're excited to have him in New Orleans."
The 42-year old Payton enters his 10th season as an NFL coach.
"During our meeting, I was impressed with Sean's attention to detail and work ethic, and his desire to work together with the entire organization as we move forward," said Owner Tom Benson. "I am pleased Mickey went through this process so thoroughly and I am very confident Sean is ready to take this step in his career. With this hire, we have put a staff in place that will be successful on the field and be a club the fans in New Orleans can be proud of for many years to come."
Payton has been a key member of Bill Parcells' coaching staff in Dallas since 2003. After starting with the Cowboys initially as Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach, he was promoted by Parcells to Assistant Head Coach/Passing Game Coordinator prior to last season.
"I think New Orleans fans will find Sean to be a bright and energetic coach who will work very hard to improve the fortunes of the Saints," said Parcells. "I know he will be diligent and determined, and the organization will get the best he has at all times."
Before joining Parcells in Dallas, Payton was offensive coordinator for the New York Giants from 2000-02, promoted to that position by former Coach Jim Fassel after serving as the Giants' quarterbacks coach in 1999. He was also the quarterbacks coach of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997-98, working with then-coordinator and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach Jon Gruden.
"Sean has had success at every stop and he has worked with some of the top coaches in the game," said Loomis. "But what was particularly impressive is that he's taken these influences and created his own philosophy and approach on what it takes to be a successful head coach."
Payton has polished the talents of several quarterbacks during his stint in the NFL, both veterans and young signal-callers. Since 2000, each passer under his guidance has thrown for at least 3,300 yards. With the Cowboys, Payton guided three different quarterbacks -- Drew Bledsoe, Vinny Testaverde in 2004 and Quincy Carter in 2003 -- to seasons of over 3,000 yards passing. In 2005, Bledsoe completed 300 of 499 passes for 3,639 yards and 23 touchdowns. The yardage total ranks third in club history and the veteran quarterback posted an 83.7 passer rating, among the best of his career.
"Sean is a very smart coach," said Bledsoe. "He is an exceptional play-caller and a creative game-planner. I'm going to miss him, as is the rest of our team, but I know he is deserving of this opportunity. The Saints organization is lucky to have him as their head coach, and I'm certain he'll have a positive long-term impact on their team."
Also in 2005, the Cowboys had the NFL's 13th-ranked offense, with WR Terry Glenn recording 62 receptions for 1,136 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. TE Jason Witten had 66 grabs for 757 yards and six TDs, ranking second in the NFC among tight ends.
While in New York, Payton worked with QB Kerry Collins and the passer's NFL career reached new heights. Collins had a career-high and club-record 4,073 yards in 2002 as the Giants finished sixth in the league in offense. In 2001, Collins completed 327 of 568 attempts for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns as New York posted the league's eighth-ranked passing attack.
Under Payton, Collins became one of the most productive quarterbacks in Giants history, standing third on the team's career list in pass attempts (1,973), third in completions (1,163), fourth in passing yards (13,765) and fifth in touchdown passes (68) before Payton's departure. Collins set an NFL record by becoming the first quarterback in league history to throw each of his team's passes in consecutive seasons (2000-2001).
Payton solidified his reputation as one of the NFL's brightest offensive coaches in 2000 when the Giants went 12-4 and captured the NFC Championship in his first full season as offensive coordinator. With Payton forming game plans and calling plays, the Giants scored 328 points, the team's highest total since the 1990 Super Bowl Champions had 335.
The Giants' rushing yardage jumped from 24th to 11th in the NFL, sparking a rise from 17th to 13th in total offense.
In 2000, Collins established then career-highs as the Giants captured the NFC Championship and went to Super Bowl XXXV. During Payton's stint in New York, WR Amani Toomer caught 311 passes and became the first player in team history to record four-straight seasons of 70-plus receptions and over 1,000 yards. And RB Tiki Barber emerged as one of the NFL's top rushers under Payton's guidance, including finishing second in the NFC with 1,387 rushing yards in 2002.
Payton wrapped two coaching stints at San Diego State University (1988-89 and 1992-93) around a stop at Indiana State (1990-91). During his second stretch with the Aztecs, Payton served as the running backs coach initially, working directly with Heisman Trophy runner-up RB Marshall Faulk before becoming the quarterbacks coach the following year Following the 1993 season, Payton moved to Miami of Ohio (1994-95) where he was the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator. He spent the 1996 season as quarterbacks coach at Illinois prior to entering the NFL with Philadelphia.
Payton earned a degree in communications at Eastern Illinois, where as a quarterback he posted 10,665 passing yards. After leading Division I-AA in passing in 1986, the three-time Associated Press All-American had stints with Chicago of the Arena Football League, Ottawa of the Canadian Football League and the Chicago Bears in 1987. Payton was inducted into the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame in September of 2000.
Born Dec. 29, 1963, Payton and his wife, Beth, have two children: daughter, Meghan, and son, Connor Thomas.
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