Overtime

While catching up on some reading, a reporter came across a quote from former Saints head coach Sean Payton, who now of course, plies his trade for the Denver Broncos.

Payton, who is fanatical about not discussing injuries, said the following when asked about Denver running back Javonte Williams, who is attempting a comeback from major knee surgery.

Payton acknowledged that Williams is doing well, then added this nugget.

“We’re pretty tight lipped relative to information going out.”

I had to giggle.

In May, the September Sean Payton was bubbling near the surface.

His offenses may be somewhat complex, but Payton isn’t.

In his year off from football, he decided that he missed the game and wanted to return.

And, as a student of Super Bowl history, Sean Payton knows that no NFL coach has won a Super Bowl with two different organizations.

Currently in the NFL, two Super Bowl winning coaches, Mike McCarthy in Green Bay, and Doug Pedersen in Jacksonville are trying to do the same thing.

And, history says the task is daunting.

Vince Lombardi, who won five NFL titles in Green Bay, and the first two Super Bowls, may have done it in Washington.
But, he died of colon cancer, before his second season with the Redskins began.

Hank Stram won the first Super Bowl played at Tulane Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs, but his return with the Saints, was brief and unsuccessful.

Jimmy Johnson won Super Bowls in his last two years in Dallas, but his return to Miami, was able to produce only one 10-win season in four.

Mike Shanahan won two Super Bowls in Denver, but won only 24 games in four seasons with the Redskins.

Mike Ditka won a Super Bowl in Chicago, but only 15 games in three seasons with the Saints.

George Seifert won two Super Bowl titles as the head coach of the 49ers, but in Carolina he won 16 games in three seasons.

Four coaches have been a head coach in the Super Bowl with different organizations.

Philadelphia’s Dick Vermeil coached the Eagles to the Super Bowl at the Superdome in 1981, and won the big game 19 years later with the St. Louis Rams.

Andy Reid coached Philadelphia to the Super Bowl and has won it twice with Kansas City.

Bill Parcells won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and got the Patriots to the big game. But in New England, with the New York Jets, and Dallas, he was never able to get back to the top of the mountain.

And, Mike Holmgren won a Super Bowl in Green Bay, appeared in another, and nine years later reached the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

Payton has an owner with deep pockets, and he’s coaching in a great football city, one of the best in America.
But, he is also in the same division with the best quarterback in the game, 28 year old Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs, and one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, 25 year old Justin Herbert.

He will see those two four times a season.

But, Payton, confident as ever, is betting that he can overcome almost 60 years of history.

And, there’s no questioning his capabilities or his pedigree.

And, if he wins a Super Bowl in Denver, he’s on the Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches.

Which is exactly where he wants to be.