Broncos lining up contracts for Sean Payton, George Paton is ‘huge’

After the Denver Broncos signed head coach Sean Payton to a new five-year contract on Thursday, the team is obviously very happy with the direction they are headed at both the head coach and general manager. General manager George Paton also received a well-deserved new deal back in May, linking the two men together through the 2030 season.

“I think it makes all the sense in the world,” said Payton of the new contract Thursday after wrapping up the second week of OTAs. “I’m super appreciative of that opportunity. I said this to (the media) earlier, that triangle of ownership… The Walton-Penner group, Carrie and Greg Penner, and then George (Paton), working with him… I’ve been spoiled because I had a really good experience in New Orleans with ownership and Mickey [Loomis]. To go two-for-two with that is hard in our league. I’m thankful they want me back, and we’ll do everything we can to continue to keep winning.”

Paton was responsible for bringing Payton into the Broncos organization after swinging and missing on Nathaniel Hackett in 2022, and the duo have completely turned the tide of where Denver is going.

“It was an important decision,” Payton said of his initial move to come to Colorado. “I’ve said this respectfully just recently. It wasn’t like we were trying to find a division with Andy [Reid] and Patrick [Mahomes] in it, but it was the right job with the ownership group, with George, that interview process. My gut told me that. Fortunately for me, they felt the same way.”

Broncos players also think Payton’s leadership has been transformative. “t’s huge,” said defensive lineman Zach Allen of Payton’s extension. “What he’s done here has been incredible. A lot of us signed extensions and a big reason why was because of him. It’s fully deserved, and we are really happy for him. To have him still here is great. It’s the continuity. Like I said earlier, in this league it’s hard to get. The fact that we have it here is really a testament to how great ownership, George and Sean are. It’s a great place to be.”

With his new deal in hand, Payton looks to bring the Broncos a world championship in the years to come.