Sean Payton signs a five-year contract to become the Broncos’ official head coach: “A very sharp attacking intellect”

Three days after the Broncos revealed that they had completed a deal with the Saints for the rights to his services, former New Orleans head coach Sean Payton signed a contract with the team on Friday. Although the contract’s financial details were not made public, a source informed The Post that Payton has a five-year deal, which means he will be signed until the 2027 season.

“I’m excited about the challenge,” Payton stated during a conversation with an internal reporter. “This place has incredible tradition. Although it will need a great deal of effort, our goal is to succeed.

Since Payton had a deal with New Orleans through 2024, the Broncos decided to exchange Payton’s rights and a 2024 third-round pick for the Saints’ No. 29 overall pick in the April NFL draft along with a 2024 second-round pick.

Broncos CEO Greg Penner stated in a statement, “Sean Payton is an amazing leader and Super Bowl winner with a terrific offensive mind.” He is eager to take on the role of head coach for Broncos Country, and we share his dedication to winning titles. Sean is skilled at creating a winning culture with high standards. He sets and upholds high standards while coaching with energy and attention to detail. Sean truly loves the game and puts his all into being successful through preparation, ingenuity, and passion.

Payton, who arrived in Denver on Wednesday, according to a source, has a lot of work ahead of him. Among the tasks on the list are assembling his first Broncos roster and selecting which members of Nathaniel Hackett’s staff from the previous season to retain.

It’s not like you just get back into it after doing this for a while and then abruptly taking a year off. In reality, you have to start again from scratch, according to Payton. “It can feel daunting to have coaches’ names up on the chalk board and to be scheduling interviews, but it also feels refreshing and challenging again.”

One day following Hackett’s dismissal on December 27, Penner pledged to do a thorough assessment of Denver’s football program and stated that the next head coach he selects would be involved in that process.

“That’s (already) happening now, but I tend to be impatient, so the new head coach will absolutely be engaged in that,” he stated at the time. “We’ll assess every aspect. (Paton) brought up the injuries, and that has presented significant difficulties. Myself and Carrie Walton-Penner struck up discussions with people in the NFL headquarters. We went to see our program with (NFL Chief Medical Officer Allan Sills) and other officials a month ago. We don’t need a head coach to start examining the necessary adjustments in this situation.

“Our next steps will be much influenced by the head coach, once we have that somebody on board.”

Payton now enters that process as well, bringing with him 24 years of overall NFL coaching experience in addition to 15 years as head coach.

George Paton, general manager of the Broncos, and Mickey Loomis, general manager of the Saints, have my sincere gratitude. “Those people spent days negotiating the remuneration that made this possible over the phone. Because of this, it was distinctly different but also considerably more satisfying.

In2022, Payton,59, did not serve as a coach. Before determining he needed time away from coaching, he led New Orleans from 2006 to 21. The only interruption in his tenure came during the 2012 season when he was suspended due to his involvement in the “Bounty Gate” controversy.

He’s back in control of a team a year later, and he’ll be back on the field in the fall.

“Hiring a head coach with Sean’s credentials is uncommon in any sport, and we are grateful for the Saints’ exceptional approach to this process,” Penner stated. “We also valued the chance to interact with and gain knowledge from other exceptional, highly skilled coaches that we spoke with.”

With New Orleans, Payton has 152 regular-season wins, nine postseason triumphs, and a Super Bowl title to his name.