It's Official: Denver Broncos Name Sean Payton Head Coach

The Denver Broncos made it official on Friday. Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is their guy.

The Denver Broncos announced Sean Payton as their 20th head coach on Friday afternoon. News of the deal broke Tuesday, and the Broncos made it official three-days later.

Multiple reports indicate he signed a five-year deal, tying him to the Broncos through the 2027 season.

"Sean Payton is an outstanding leader and Super Bowl champion with a brilliant offensive mind," said Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner via press release. "He shares our commitment to winning championships for Broncos Country and we’re excited to welcome him as our new head coach."

Payton spent 15 years coaching the Saints, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 2009. Payton led the Saints to the playoffs in nine of his 15 seasons in charge and had a 152-89 record.

New Orleans had been to the playoffs just five times in the franchise's 39-year history before Payton's arrival.

"Sean knows how to build a championship culture with high expectations," continued Penner. "He coaches with intensity and attention-to-detail while setting and maintaining high standards. Sean pours his heart and soul into winning with preparation, creativity and a genuine love of the game."

The Broncos gave up a first-round pick this year and a second-round pick in next year's draft to acquire Payton, and Penner sees it as a very small price to pay to get a coach with Payton's credentials.

"It is rare in any sport to hire a head coach with Sean’s credentials and we appreciate the first-class manner in which the Saints approached this process," said Penner. "We also appreciated the opportunity to meet and learn from the other highly qualified, outstanding coaches we interviewed."

Other candidates the Broncos met with included Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh and former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans who took the head coach job in Houston.

"Our goal was to identify a strong leader for the Denver Broncos who is focused on winning, and we found him in Coach Payton," concluded Payton.

The Broncos are scheduled to introduce Payton as their head coach in a press conference on Monday.