Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans was filled with nostalgia as the former Saints coach, who led the team for 16 years, stepped into the Superdome once again — this time as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. On a night when the Saints honored Drew Brees, Payton’s long-time quarterback, the emotions were palpable, but his Broncos delivered a commanding 33-10 victory over his former team.
Now in his second season with the Broncos, Payton entered the visitors’ locker room for the first time in the stadium he once called home. Despite the emotional pregame atmosphere, the Broncos put together a disciplined and focused performance, improving their record to 4-3 — their best start in seven games since the 2016 season.
“It was nice to get the win against his former team, especially for our coach, and the rest of the staff and the guys who played here,” said Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey. “Really proud of how we handled it, what we did.”
Payton’s 16-year tenure with the Saints, from 2006 to 2021, was highlighted by his partnership with Brees. The Hall of Fame quarterback was honored at halftime as the newest member of the Saints’ Hall of Fame, and before the game, he ran onto the field to a roaring ovation from the crowd.
But as the game got underway, the Broncos quickly overpowered an injury-plagued Saints team, dominating on both offense and defense. Denver’s defense delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with six sacks, a defensive touchdown, and limiting the Saints to just 271 total yards — with most of those yards coming in the fourth quarter when the Broncos’ backups were on the field.
On offense, Denver was relentless. The team rushed for 225 yards, led by running back Javonte Williams, who racked up 88 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Bo Nix contributed another 75 yards as the Broncos scored on six consecutive possessions in the middle of the game.
Payton had emphasized the importance of staying focused, especially on a short week of practice. “It’s just easy to complain on a short week,” Payton said, “but overall I’m pleased with how we played.”
Before the game, Payton took extra time to catch up with his family and friends from the New Orleans area, sharing moments of reflection. He also attended a brief event honoring Brees earlier that day, alongside several Broncos coaches and staff members who had worked with him during his Saints tenure.
For Payton, the memories of his time in New Orleans were strong. He was even shown a photo of Broncos running back Tyler Badie, who was just 12 years old at the time, wearing a Saints jersey during a training camp visit. “Then you feel old,” Payton joked.
After the win, Payton was presented with the game ball in the Broncos’ locker room — a moment that clearly resonated with him. “[It] meant a lot,” he said. “Because there were a lot of moments here. You get a chance to see old players and then to be with this team… you miss relationships, you miss making memories.”
With this win, the Broncos not only celebrated a major milestone for their head coach but also continued building momentum for the rest of their season.