Sean Payton publicly expressed his desire to see Bill Belichick return to the NFL sidelines.The denver Broncos head coach stated Wednesday he misses having Belichick as an active participant in the league and believes his return would benefit all teams.
Belichick, a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recently completed a stint as a defensive coach at North Carolina. While his coaching future remains uncertain, Payton voiced optimism about a potential return to professional football, noting Belichick’s significant impact on the game. “I’ll be honest with you, I miss him not being in the league,” Payton told reporters. “I wouldn’t be surprised, and I would be somewhat hopeful that he ends up back in the league. We’d all be better for it. He’s something.”
Despite Belichick’s legendary status – a Hall of Fame case that some argue should be automatic – obstacles to a swift return exist. His departure from the New England Patriots involved a $1 million buyout, and concerns linger regarding his management style and potential desire for complete control of a franchise’s football operations.
Currently,31 NFL teams coudl choose not to pursue Belichick,but Payton’s comments highlight the possibility that one team might see value in bringing the six-time Super Bowl champion back to the league. Payton implied that several struggling franchises could benefit from Belichick’s expertise, suggesting they haven’t fared better without him.