Jerry Jones Reveals How Cowboys Nearly Hired Sean Payton Ahead of Broncos Matchup
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Denver Broncos in Week 8, owner Jerry Jones revealed that the Cowboys almost hired Sean Payton a few years ago.
For decades, the Cowboys owner has admired Payton’s offensive mind, dating back to their shared time in Dallas under Bill Parcells.
As CBS Sports noted, Jerry Jones told 105.3 The Fan this week that the stars never quite aligned between the two.
“Several times. It just never fit,” Jones said. “He was never there when we needed to be thinking about making a change. The timing never fit. He’s certainly one of the better coaches that I’ve been around in my career.”
Jones first hired Payton in 2003 as Parcells’ assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, where the young offensive mind quickly made an impression.
By 2006, however, Payton took his talents to New Orleans and the rest became history.
From afar, Jones watched him build a Super Bowl-winning resume with the Saints, becoming one of the most respected coaches in modern football.
Even now, nearly 20 years later, Jones still speaks about Payton as a coach who could have defined an era in Dallas.
“We’ve always had a tremendous respect for his ability to coach a team in every respect,” Jones added. “I thought before he ever was a head coach that it probably would happen here.”
How Dallas Almost Landed Payton
The Cowboys’ pursuit of Payton wasn’t just a rumor. Jones truly believed he’d one day lead America’s Team.
Payton’s background in Dallas, paired with his offensive pedigree, made him an ideal candidate for the position.
But timing proved to be the undoing.
Each time the Cowboys faced a potential coaching transition, Payton was either under contract or in the midst of playoff runs in New Orleans.
In the offseason of 2023, there were rumblings that the Cowboys would fire head coach Mike McCarthy and look towards Sean Payton once again.
But Jerry never pulled the trigger and McCarthy remained the Dallas head coach up until he was let go this past offseason.
This week’s matchup only intensifies that storyline: two of the NFL’s biggest names who almost joined forces years ago are now facing off on opposite sidelines, each trying to lead his team toward the playoffs.
Payton’s Broncos Rise
Now leading the Broncos (5-2), Payton has reestablished his reputation after a rocky first year in Denver.
Last year, Payton led the Broncos 10-7 record, leading the team to their first playoff appearance since 2015. The team has now won five of its last six, including a dramatic comeback against the Giants last Sunday.
The Broncos are now first place in the AFC West.
In just two years, Payton took a team that won just five games in 2022 to a team that has Super Bowl aspirations and has built a really solid core of stars led by quarterback Bo Nix and cornerback Pat Surtain.
The Broncos will look to keep their momentum going against the Cowboys this Sunday.
As the Cowboys travel to Denver, Jerry Jones makes it clear that “there’s no bitterness, just recognition of what might have been.“There’s no coach we think more of, or respect more, than Sean Payton,” Jones said.
Sunday’s game carries big stakes for both sides, with each team fighting to stay on track in the playoff race.
Terry McLaurin just said what every Commanders fan wanted to hear
Terry McLaurin is gearing up to make his triumphant return for the Washington Commanders in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The wide receiver has been sorely missed, and he needs to hit the ground running for this offense to stay competitive versus a team expected to go deep into the playoffs once again.
There will be no Jayden Daniels for McLaurin to depend upon on Monday Night Football. The superstar quarterback has been ruled out with a low-grade hamstring strain, but Marcus Mariota is a capable understudy. And the signal-caller won't be complaining when he sees Washington's No. 1 wideout, together with versatile weapon Deebo Samuel Sr., lining up alongside him.
McLaurin's been an innocent bystander in the last four games, which has been deeply frustrating. This is even more significant given that he missed the entire summer due to a contract standoff. He got his money, but only when the extension worked for general manager Adam Peters.
Terry McLaurin confident he'll have no restrictions in long-awaited Commanders return
But after false hope from Dan Quinn over the last couple of weeks, things look much more promising now. McLaurin and Samuel have both been full participants in practice, and based on the former Ohio State star's comments during his first media appearance since his quad/hip problem, he'll have no limitations whatsoever.
I think if there’s one thing that you kind of got to keep in mind during the rehab process, like, it’s a very controlled environment, which is great for anybody that’s hurt. But when you go out there and the guardrails are off, you know there’s a lot of unexpected things that can happen. And so, to be able to just be myself without any hindrance and pain is extremely important.Terry McLaurin via The Athletic
This is precisely what Commanders fans wanted to hear. It's been an arduous process, not helped by Washington's on-field inconsistencies. At the same time, desperately throwing McLaurin back into the lineup at less than 100 percent would only increase the risk of further complications.
It's the most positive injury update so far, and the fact that it comes from McLaurin himself makes it even better. Expecting miracles right away might be pushing it, especially without Daniels. However, his presence alone should be enough to give everyone in the locker room a massive lift at a time when morale is probably dwindling.
McLaurin is one of the league's most consistent receivers when fit and firing on all cylinders. The Commanders still have a monumental challenge awaiting them, but their chances improve exponentially with the second-team All-Pro returning from his lengthy absence.
