Sean Payton: Potential Commanders Buyers Reached Out Before Broncos Hire

Denver hired the head coach last month.

Sean Payton was the biggest name on the coaching market up until the Broncos hired him last month. While four of the five teams making a head coaching change were at one point interested in speaking with Payton, one team that didn’t fire their head coach was also intrigued.

The new Denver head coach revealed that certain groups who have shown interest in buying the Commanders reached out to measure Payton’s interest in Washington.

“Everyone’s waiting to see what’s happening in Washington,” Payton told Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio. “There were some interest in some ownership groups that currently have bid on that team that were getting ahead of the game.” 

"There were a lot of different things in play."

Sean Payton tells @AdamSchein there was interest from potential Commanders' ownership groups that reached out about him coaching in Washington D.C.

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— Mad Dog Sports Radio (@MadDogRadio) February 10, 2023

While nothing seems official, it was reported in December that Dan and Tanya Snyder are likely to sell the Commanders. Dan Snyder has been embroiled in controversy as the team’s owner, which includes a House Committee on Oversight and Reform’s investigation into his role over the allegations of sexual harassment with the organization. The Snyders reportedly hired the Bank of America to explore a potential sale in November.

Payton, who coached with the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys before becoming the Saints head coach in 2006, praised the tradition of Washington and lamented it becoming such a tough situation.

“That was one of the six pillars,” he said. “That was a special place. It will come back.”

Washington’s current head coach is Ron Rivera, who is set to enter his fourth season with the team in that role. In three years, Rivera has a 22-27-1 record with the team including one playoff appearance.