While Bill Belichick has ruled out an NFL return multiple times since leaving the New England Patriots, teams have continued to inquire about the legendary head coach. Among those interested was current Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton, with a recent ESPN report revealing he was once willing to give up his own job for his longtime friend and coaching counterpart.
Payton is known for his creative, unconventional ideas, but even by his standards, the proposal was extraordinary. As it turns out, though, the thought really did cross his mind.
Sean Payton Admits He Considered Stepping Aside for Bill Belichick
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported this week that Payton considered pitching an unusual idea to Broncos owner Greg Penner. Under the proposal, Payton would step aside as head coach while Belichick took over the team until he recorded the 15 victories needed to surpass Don Shula’s all-time NFL coaching record of 347 career wins.
The Broncos were in the middle of a major rebuild with rookie quarterback Bo Nix taking over under center, and Payton reportedly envisioned shifting his focus exclusively to the offense while allowing Belichick to lead the team.
The report sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the idea, but Payton has not backed away from acknowledging that it originated with him.
“There was this moment where I was like, you know, I’d like to hire this guy,” Payton told SportsBoom. “I’m just a big fan of Bill’s and I think our league’s better when he’s in it.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
The 62-year-old, however, emphasized that it was nothing more than a passing thought.
“And he (ESPN reporter Seth Wickersham) hears all your thoughts, and obviously that lasted for about 10 minutes. But it was just one of those ideas that, you know, sometimes you’ll brainstorm something, and then you’ll quickly move on.”
“But I’ve got a ton of respect for Bill. I think that much of him. And so it was just one of those crazy thoughts,” he added.
In hindsight, Payton may likely be pleased the idea never moved beyond the brainstorming stage. In 2024, the Broncos reached the postseason before falling to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round. They took another step forward in 2025, winning the AFC West behind PFN’s No. 4-ranked defense before coming up just short against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Payton has since handed offensive play-calling duties to Davis Webb, and Denver enters the upcoming season as one of the favorites for the Super Bowl.
Belichick, meanwhile, is preparing for his second season with the North Carolina Tar Heels. After a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2025, he will be looking to engineer a significant turnaround.
