Sean Payton supports his assistants
Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton genuinely enjoys watching his assistant coaches receive opportunities to advance their careers. When other teams show interest in his staff, he views it as validation of the work being done inside the building.
At the same time, support does not mean the process is flawless. Payton recently acknowledged that while career growth is part of the profession, the timing of interviews during the postseason creates real challenges.
The NFL hiring process during the playoffs
Under current NFL rules, teams that miss the playoffs and fire their head coaches are permitted to interview candidates from clubs still competing in the postseason. That means active playoff staffs can be approached mid-run.
For teams chasing a championship, that overlap introduces an unusual dynamic. Coaches must balance preparation for critical games while also considering potential career-defining interviews.
Broncos assistants drew interest
The Broncos had several assistants interview for head coaching openings during the playoffs. Vance Joseph, Davis Webb, and Darren Rizzi were among those who received opportunities to meet with other organizations.
Their interviews highlighted the respect around the league for Denver’s staff. However, it also placed additional responsibilities on individuals already focused on postseason preparation.
Preparing for interviews takes serious time
Sean Payton argues that preparing for a head coach interview is a monumental task requiring deep research and organization. This process is never brief, demanding significant time from any serious candidate involved.
This extensive preparation often competes directly with the intense focus required to study and prepare for a playoff opponent. It creates a massive distraction that complicates a team’s pursuit of a championship run.
Playoff preparation demands full attention
According to Payton, preparing for a postseason game requires every waking minute. The playoffs leave no room for divided attention or half measures.
Balancing interview preparation with game planning can stretch even the most disciplined coach thin. That is where the tension in the current system becomes most visible and obvious.
Support mixed with concern
Payton describes these ill-timed coaching interviews as an unavoidable part of the professional deal. Coaches fully understand that career advancement opportunities often arrive at highly inconvenient moments during the high-stakes and busy postseason.
However, he admits managing these competing priorities remains incredibly difficult for everyone. Even when talented assistants handle the process well, the heavy strain of juggling multiple responsibilities remains a significant and real concern.
A league wide challenge
During his remarks, Payton clearly acknowledged that this interview timing dilemma is not just a Broncos issue. It remains a persistent challenge that the entire league continues to battle every single year for coaches.
He did not claim to possess any clear solutions for this conflict. Instead, he framed it as a major ongoing problem that heavily affects teams still competing deep into the late NFL postseason schedule.
Competition committee perspective
Payton recently referenced his unique leadership role connected to the influential NFL competition committee staff. From that high-level vantage point, the messy timing of coaching interviews becomes even more complicated for everyone involved.
Being involved in these broader league discussions while simultaneously navigating playoff preparation adds another layer. It creates a massive burden on an already crowded schedule during the most critical weeks of the season.
The Super Bowl delay idea
One possible solution would be to delay interviews until after the Super Bowl. That approach would eliminate distractions for teams still playing.
However, such a change would slow the hiring timeline for organizations looking to rebuild quickly. Teams prefer to move fast once their seasons end.
Fun fact: During his suspension in 2012, Payton coached his son’s sixth-grade football team in Argyle, Texas. This experience was the basis for the 2022 Netflix movie Home Team.
The race to build coaching staffs
Franchises that fire their head coaches often want to assemble new coaching staffs immediately. Waiting until after the Super Bowl could significantly delay critical offseason planning and the recruitment of top available coordinators.
That professional urgency explains why the current system remains in place today. Teams desperately want to maintain positive momentum as they transition quickly into the next vital phase of scouting and roster preparation.
A Persistent Framework
For now, there does not appear to be any immediate adjustment coming to the official hiring calendar. The league continues operating under the same competitive structure despite constant debate from various team owners.
That means playoff teams will likely keep navigating this difficult dual responsibility in all future seasons. The tension is clearly understood by officials, but the problem remains unresolved for many frustrated coaches.
Broncos assistants handled it well
Payton credited his assistants for managing their responsibilities professionally. Despite the additional demands, he believes they handled the situation effectively.
Even so, strong professionalism does not eliminate the strain. The underlying issue of time management during the playoffs still lingers.
Curious why Bad Bunny’s halftime performance sparked such mixed reactions? Take a look at our full breakdown of the show and the buzz it created to see what had everyone talking.
Balancing ambition and competition
Ultimately, the situation reflects the intersection of ambition and competition. Coaches deserve opportunities to advance, especially when they have earned league wide interest.
At the same time, playoff teams are fighting for championships. Until the league adjusts the calendar, that delicate balance will remain part of the NFL landscape.
Curious how the Seahawks’ defense set the tone and carried them all the way to a Super Bowl win? Dive in to see how that dominant unit powered their 2026 championship run from start to finish.
Do you think Sean Payton has a valid point about how the NFL is handling this hiring cycle, or is it just the nature of the business? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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