nfl

Payton Considered Stepping Down for Belichick

Published July 8, 2026 · Updated July 8, 2026 · NBC Sports

Sean Payton considered stepping down as Broncos head coach to allow Bill Belichick a chance to break Don Shula's all-time wins record.

According to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, Payton contemplated suggesting to Broncos owner Greg Penner that he would move to assistant head coach, running the offense, while Belichick would take over as head coach. The plan was for Belichick to stay until he won 15 games, breaking Shula's record of 347 career wins. ipl-cricket.in

Belichick currently has 333 wins, trailing Shula by 14. The idea, described as 'too complicated — and maybe too fanciful,' was likely just Payton thinking out loud out of respect for Belichick. With limited NFL coaching opportunities, this might have been Belichick's only realistic chance to catch Shula's record.

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