Two years ago, Sean Payton had a wild idea. Like, truly out-there stuff. According to a report from Seth Wickersham that Adam Schefter shared on X, the Denver Broncos head coach considered walking away from his own job temporarily so Bill Belichick could chase history in Denver.
The plan went something like this: hire Belichick as head coach until he won 15 games. That would put him past Don Shula’s all-time record of 347 career wins. Payton would drop down to assistant head coach and run the offense. After Belichick broke the record, Payton would slide back into the top job.
It never happened. Too complicated. Maybe too fanciful too. But the fact that Payton even thought about it tells you something about how he viewed Belichick’s situation after the Patriots divorce in 2024.
What Was Payton Thinking?
Hard to say for sure. But Payton has always been a creative thinker. The guy wrote a book about coaching. He’s not afraid of unconventional moves. And the Broncos were in a weird spot after the 2023 season. They had Russell Wilson’s contract situation hanging over everything. Bringing in Belichick for a short-term run at history could have given Denver a massive jolt of attention and credibility.
On the other hand, Belichick has never been an assistant to anyone. He was still a hot commodity despite the rough final years in New England. The idea of him taking a handoff from Payton and then handing the keys back is hard to picture.
The Real Question Now: Can Payton Get to a Super Bowl?
That’s what matters for Denver in 2026. The roster is solid. ESPN ranked the Broncos eighth overall in roster strength. The offensive line is the clear strength — same five starters for three straight years, which is almost unheard of in today’s NFL. Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Luke Wattenberg, Quinn Meinerz and Mike McGlinchey have all graded above average in pass protection two years running.
Tight end is a weakness. But that’s a spot you can hide if everyone else is playing well.
Bo Nix Is the Key
The offense runs through quarterback Bo Nix. He’s coming off an ankle injury but Payton said after practice that Nix is doing great and will be ready for training camp. That’s good news for a team that needs consistency at the position. Nix showed flashes as a rookie but the Broncos need more. They need him to be the guy who can carry them through January.
Injuries happen. Every team deals with them. But Denver has enough pieces to make noise if Nix stays healthy and Payton’s play-calling stays sharp. The Belichick idea was a fun what-if. The actual path forward is simpler: win with what you’ve got.
Leave a Comment