NEW ORLEANS — In a prolific career as the Saints' head coach, Sean Payton addressed his teams dozens of times after big wins.
On Thursday night in New Orleans, Payton and his team again earned a win. Only this time, Payton was standing in the visiting locker room in the aftermath of a critical victory.
And as Payton stood in a fog-filled locker room, Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner presented Payton with a game ball to commemorate the win in his return to the Big Easy.
"It meant a lot," Payton said after the Broncos' 33-10 win over the Saints. "… It meant a lot, because there were a lot of moments here."
During his tenure as the Saints' head coach, he earned the most wins and posted the highest win percentage in franchise history. Payton led the Saints to their lone Super Bowl title and earned nine playoff wins.
Payton became just the second head coach in NFL history that won at least 150 games with an organization to face his former team. Unlike Hall of Famer Curly Lambeau, though, Payton earned a win in his return. Payton is also the second coach since 2000 to win his first road game against his former team of at least 10 seasons.
In the hours before the Broncos' prime-time win, Payton honored some of those moments. He and several other former Saints coaches briefly stopped by Drew Brees' Saints Hall of Fame induction luncheon. Closer to kickoff, Payton visited with former players and coaches on the field.
Then, he went to battle with his new team and earned a win that pushed the Broncos to 4-3 — and also reminded Payton of why he coaches.
"To be with this team and this ownership group, it's the reason you miss it," Payton said. "The one year out, and you miss relationships, and you miss making memories. It's like I told [the team] a couple weeks ago [about CB Pat] Surtain's interception right in front of our bench. There will be a day when I don't remember his name, and I'm having applesauce out of a straw, but I'll remember that play. That part of it, being around young people and having a chance to be part of their journey and coach them is a pretty good job, and I'm thankful for it."
Payton said ahead of the game that there would be emotions returning to face the Saints for the first time as an opposing head coach, but he also turned the attention toward the importance of earning a win. The Broncos were able to earn that victory on Thursday, and Payton joined a select group of head coaches that have defeated all 32 teams in their career.
"It was awesome," said quarterback Bo Nix of the team presenting Payton with a game ball. "The Saints mean a lot to him. He was there for a while. Had amazing success, and it's tough to go back to a place that you called home for that long and you fought for and now you're playing against. It was special. It was a great moment. [I'm] happy for him."
Running back Javonte Williams said he could tell the importance of the win and that "it was something that was close to his heart" by the way Payton addressed the team after the game. Payton acknowledged it was "emotional" to receive the game ball and return to the place where he began his head-coaching career.
Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto put it even more simply when asked what it meant to be able to deliver a win for their head coach.
"It meant everything," Bonitto said.
