This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
METAIRIE, La. • Saints coach Sean Payton says he's remaining with New Orleans, ending speculation that he could be on the move after consecutive 7-9 seasons.
Payton, who has been with the Saints for a decade and coming off his first consecutive losing seasons, says he can't envision coaching for any other club. Payton said he plans on finishing his career in New Orleans.
Payton began his first and only NFL head coaching job with the Saints in 2006, the season after the team had been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
Since then, he has gone 87-57 in the regular season with five playoff appearances and one Super Bowl title in the 2009 season.
His playoff record is 6-4. Payton's record excludes the 2012 season, when he was suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation.
With Drew Brees as his quarterback, the offense Payton designed has ranked first in the NFL in five of the nine seasons he has coached, never ranking lower than sixth.
However, the Saints have often ranked near the bottom of the NFL defensively during Payton's tenure.