ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After leading the Broncos back to the postseason, Head Coach Sean Payton has been nominated for the NFL's top coaching honor.
Payton was named one of five finalists for 2024 Associated Press Coach of the Year, the NFL announced Thursday.
The winning coach will be revealed during NFL Honors on Thursday, Feb. 6.
In his second season in Denver, Payton led the Broncos to their first 10-win season and first playoff appearance since 2015.
Facing salary cap restraints and low expectations from many national media members entering the season, Payton guided his team to its most successful campaign in nearly a decade. The "young and hungry" team — as Payton often referred to his group — recorded a four-game winning streak to put itself in striking distance of the playoffs before clinching a berth with a win over the Chiefs in Week 18. The Broncos achieved the aforementioned success with a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix and a slew of other young contributors.
"He's meant a lot," Nix said of Payton after the season. "He gave me my first chance. He believed in me. He was quick to have my back at all times. … It's just that support and having a coach that has your back and encourages me like that, [that] means a lot. [It] helps me play fast and helps me play with confidence, even though we both know that I'm going to make mistakes. We both know that I'm going to want some things back, but he coached me really well.
"I was fortunate to be coached by him, by one of the best of all time. I'm excited to move forward after the learning that we did this year, continue to get closer with one another and understand each other better. [I'm] just thankful for his willingness and the opportunity to play for him. He drafted me, and that says a lot."
Payton is one of eight active head coaches to have won AP Coach of the Year, as he earned the award with the Saints in 2006. If Payton earns the award, he would join Kevin Stefanski as the only active head coach with multiple AP Coach of the Year honors.
Broncos Ring of Fame head coach Red Miller (1977) is the only coach in franchise history to be named AP Coach of the Year.
The Lions' Dan Campbell, Vikings' Kevin O'Connell, Commanders' Dan Quinn and Chiefs' Andy Reid are also nominated for this year's award.
In addition to Payton's nomination, cornerback Pat Surtain II is nominated for AP Defensive Player of the Year and Nix is nominated for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
