Sean Payton spills the beans about a recent conversation with a New Orleans Saints executive

The New Orleans Saints and the rest of the NFL have a close eye on a particular event this week. That'd be the NFL Combine. Former Saints head coach Sean Payton shared an intriguing update on Tuesday afternoon.  Sean Payton discusses Darren Rizzi According to Luke Johnson, the former Saints head coach talked to general […]

Adam Holt — NFL News Writer
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The New Orleans Saints and the rest of the NFL have a close eye on a particular event this week. That'd be the NFL Combine.

Former Saints head coach Sean Payton shared an intriguing update on Tuesday afternoon. 

Sean Payton discusses Darren Rizzi

According to Luke Johnson, the former Saints head coach talked to general manager Mickey Loomis during New Orleans' head-coaching search. Payton was looking for a bit of an update because he had interest in hiring Darren Rizzi to his staff. 

“I text Mickey and I say, ‘Hey, when are you guys hiring your head coach?’” Payton recalled Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “And he texts me back and said, ‘When are you hiring your special teams coordinator?’” — Luke Johnson

Payton sustains the belief that Rizzi was strongly considered for New Orleans. That's probably not untrue, either. 

“He was a very serious candidate in New Orleans. I think he’ll be a head coach in this league.” — Sean Payton on Darren Rizzi

That being said, Kellen Moore emerged soon after his first interview with the front office as the clear frontrunner to land the Saints' HC job. Then, he did.

Now, Rizzi resides with Payton again, but this time, it is in Denver. That always seemed like a likely outcome for both coaches.

We will see if he can carve out another HC opportunity in the future. He garnered some interest this offseason there, including with the New York Jets before they hired former Saints assistant Aaron Glenn.

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