NFL Rumors: Broncos Made Late Push for DeMeco Ryans Before Hiring Sean Payton as HC

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The Denver Broncos reportedly reached a deal with the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday to make Sean Payton their new head coach, but it appears he might not have been their first choice.

The Broncos made a late push to hire former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans on Tuesday before he agreed to become the new head coach of the Houston Texans, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

“When he agreed to terms with the Texans, they moved and finalized Sean Payton,” Rapoport wrote.

Rapoport added that the Broncos “zeroed in” on Ryans as their top candidate over the last few weeks, “secretly tried to lure Jim Harbaugh from Michigan” and negotiated a deal to hire Payton. He also said the Broncos tried to hire Ryans again before finalizing a deal with Payton.

However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the hiring of both Payton and Ryans on Tuesday “was completely coincidental.” The Broncos were “zeroed in” on Payton and had no contact with Ryans or his agent this week, per Schefter.

The Broncos are sending the No. 30 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and a 2024 second-round pick to New Orleans for Payton and the Saints’ 2024 third-round pick, according to Schefter.

Payton, who stepped down as head coach of the Saints after the 2021 season, was still under contract with New Orleans, which is why Denver needed to send the Saints compensation to hire him as their next head coach.

The Broncos had been heavily linked to both Payton and Ryans throughout this year’s head coaching cycle. Mike Klis of 9 News Denver reported on Jan. 26 that Ryans had emerged as “a top candidate” for their head coaching gig. One day later, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Ryans had also emerged as a top candidate for the Texans.

If Ryans had the choice of where he wanted to coach, it would be no surprise if he chose to return to Houston, where he played as a linebacker for six seasons from 2006-2011. With that said, the Houston job is arguably the more difficult of the two, as the team is still very young and lacks elite talent.

In Denver, Payton will inherit a roster that includes nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, edge-rusher Randy Gregory, cornerback Pat Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons. Ryans will have to work with a young group that includes quarterback Davis Mills, wideout Nico Collins and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr.

Both the Broncos and Texans will be hoping their new hires can help turn things around. The Broncos finished at the bottom of the AFC West with a 5-12 record, while the Texans finished last in the AFC South at 3-13-1.