Sean Payton Net Worth

What Is Sean Payton's Net Worth?

Sean Payton is an American football coach who has a net worth of $45 million. Sean Payton's coaching career kicked off in the collegiate ranks, starting as an offensive assistant at San Diego State University in 1988. His early years were characterized by a series of assistant coaching positions across various colleges, including Indiana State, Miami University in Ohio, and Illinois. Each stint was a stepping stone, building his reputation as an innovative offensive mind.

The leap to the NFL came in 1996 when Payton joined the Philadelphia Eagles as a quarterbacks coach, working under Ray Rhodes. His impact was soon felt, and he quickly ascended the ranks. He served as the quarterbacks coach for the New York Giants (1999-2000) and later their offensive coordinator (2000-2002), playing a pivotal role in their Super Bowl XXXV appearance.

Payton's big break came in 2006 when he was appointed the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. He transformed the Saints, who had been struggling for years, into a powerhouse. His most significant achievement came in the 2009 season when he led the Saints to their first Super Bowl victory in Super Bowl XLIV, defeating the Indianapolis Colts. This triumph not only cemented his legacy but also brought hope and pride to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Known for his aggressive play-calling and ability to develop quarterbacks, Sean's influence extended beyond the field. He was a master at crafting offenses and maximizing player talents, most notably with quarterback Drew Brees, with whom he formed one of the most successful coach-quarterback tandems in NFL history.

However, Payton's career also faced challenges. In 2012, he was suspended for the entire season due to his alleged involvement in the Saints' "Bountygate" scandal, where players were purportedly paid bonuses for injuring opposing team players. This incident marked a controversial chapter in his otherwise stellar career.

Despite this setback, Payton's overall contributions to the game are undeniable. He finished his tenure with the Saints in 2021 and joined the Denver Broncos in 2023.

Contracts & Salary

By the time of his initial retirement at the end of the 2021 NFL season, Sean Payton was bringing in a salary of $9.8 million. He retired in the final year of a 5-year $45 million contract extension signed in March 2016. And actually, that retirement was short-lived. In 2023, Sean was hired to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos. His salary at the Broncos is $18 million per year.

Early Life

Sean Patrick Payton was born on December 29, 1963, in San Mateo, California, and raised in Naperville, Illinois. The son of Tom and Jeanne Payton, he developed a passion for football at a young age. At Naperville Central High School, he became the team's starting quarterback, earning recognition for his leadership and strong football IQ. Payton went on to play collegiately at Eastern Illinois University, where he flourished under head coach Al Molde. During his senior season in 1986, he led the Panthers to an 11–2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. His offensive production and field command drew attention from NFL scouts, setting the stage for a brief professional playing career before he found his true calling in coaching.

Playing Career

Despite going undrafted in the 1987 NFL Draft, Payton's determination earned him multiple opportunities to stay in the game. He received a tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs and later played in the Arena Football League for the Chicago Bruisers and Pittsburgh Gladiators. He then joined the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League before returning to the United States during the 1987 NFL players' strike, when he played as a replacement quarterback for the Chicago Bears. His gritty performance during that strike stint earned him the nickname "The QB of the Scabs."

In 1988, Payton played overseas for the Leicester Panthers in England's Budweiser National League, where he served as both a quarterback and de facto player-coach. Though his playing career was short-lived, his analytical understanding of offensive football and leadership qualities made him a natural fit for coaching.

Early Coaching Career

After hanging up his cleats, Payton transitioned into coaching, beginning as an offensive assistant at San Diego State University. Over the next several years, he climbed the college ranks with stops at Indiana State, Miami University (Ohio), and the University of Illinois, earning a reputation for his innovative offensive schemes and quarterback development.

In 1997, Payton joined the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He quickly made a name for himself and was hired by the New York Giants in 1999, where he worked his way up to offensive coordinator. Under his direction, the Giants reached Super Bowl XXXV. In 2003, he reunited with Bill Parcells as the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys. By 2005, he had been promoted to assistant head coach and passing game coordinator, where he played a key role in developing quarterback Tony Romo. Payton's growing reputation as a creative offensive strategist made him one of the NFL's most coveted coaching prospects.

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

New Orleans Saints

In 2006, the New Orleans Saints hired Sean Payton as their head coach following the team's dismal 3–13 record the previous year and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. His arrival, along with the signing of quarterback Drew Brees, sparked one of the greatest turnarounds in NFL history. In his first season, the Saints reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history, and Payton was named AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Over the next 16 seasons, Payton built the Saints into one of the league's most consistent contenders, known for their high-powered offenses and precision passing attack. He guided the team to nine playoff appearances, seven NFC South titles, and three NFC Championship Games (2006, 2009, and 2018). The pinnacle came after the 2009 season when Payton led New Orleans to victory in Super Bowl XLIV, defeating the Indianapolis Colts and delivering the city its first championship in franchise history.

"Bountygate" Scandal

Payton's tenure was briefly derailed in 2012 when he was suspended for the entire NFL season for his role in the "Bountygate" scandal. The NFL determined that Saints defensive players had been offered bonuses for targeting and injuring opponents under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Payton denied authorizing the program but accepted responsibility as head coach. His appeal was denied, and he was reinstated in early 2013. Upon his return, he immediately restored the Saints to playoff contention, reinforcing his reputation for resilience and leadership under scrutiny.

Denver Broncos

After a one-year hiatus from coaching, Sean Payton returned to the NFL in early 2023 when he was hired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. The Broncos acquired his rights from the New Orleans Saints in a deal that included multiple draft picks, underscoring how highly he was valued despite being away from the sidelines. Denver brought him in to repair a franchise that had struggled through years of instability and disappointing offensive production since Peyton Manning's retirement in 2016.

Payton signed a five-year contract reportedly worth $90 million—an average of $18 million per year—making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. He immediately set out to overhaul the team's culture and reestablish discipline, emphasizing structure, accountability, and offensive identity. One of his first and most scrutinized challenges was reviving quarterback Russell Wilson's career after a disastrous 2022 season. Payton publicly criticized the previous coaching regime and worked to implement a more efficient offensive system designed around balance, tempo, and minimizing mistakes.

The Broncos showed signs of improvement during Payton's first season, rebounding from a slow start to become a more competitive team built on strong defense and better quarterback play. While the full rebuild remains ongoing, Payton's leadership has already restored credibility to a franchise long searching for stability. His presence in Denver is widely seen as a long-term investment in discipline, structure, and sustained success—values that defined his 16-year run in New Orleans.

Personal Life

Sean Payton was married to Beth Shuey from 1992 until their divorce in 2012. They share two children: daughter Meghan, born in 1996, and son Connor, born in 1999. In 2021, Payton married Skylene Montgomery, a former Miss West Virginia and nurse practitioner. Outside of football, he is known for his philanthropy, particularly his work in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, and his active involvement in youth sports and community development programs.

Who's Richer?

Sean
Payton

Compare!

Russell
Wilson