The scuttlebutt around Fox NFL analyst Sean Payton and whether or not he’ll end up back in the NFL as a head coach has reached a fever pitch. While the odds seem to say that it’s only a matter of time before the former New Orleans Saints coach is back in the league, Payton offered up a prediction that was a bit surprising.
Appearing on Fox NFL Sunday, Payton was asked by fellow analyst Michael Strahan what the odds were that he would still be in the studio during the 2023 NFL season and the former coach offered up a much more likely answer than suspected.
Michael Strahan: "1-10, what are the chances you'll be here next year with us (at Fox)?"
Sean Payton: "7." pic.twitter.com/oJf8iHzgeN
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 8, 2023
“1-10, what are the chances you’ll be here next year with us (at Fox)?” Asked Strahan.
“Seven,” replied Payton.
Given all of the hullabaloos this past week about Payton and the Denver Broncos or the Carolina Panthers, it almost felt like he might say the opposite. The Broncos have reportedly gone all-in on trying to lure Sean out of retirement. The contract numbers being thrown out in his direction are staggering. There’s also a lingering possibility he returns to the Saints, who still own his rights through 2024. And of course, the potential of a Payton-Tom Brady duo has people wondering about their plans.
We’ll see if Payton’s personal prognostication bears out or if he ends up taking the money to get back to doing what he was so successful at.