The Denver Broncos requested and received permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for their head coach position, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Saturday.
The NFL ruled that any in-person interview with Payton cannot be conducted until at least January 17, sources said.
Payton stepped down after last season's 9-8 finish with the Saints. New Orleans won its final two games that season, and wasn't eliminated from postseason contention till Week 18, but the veteran coach still decided to walk away after 15 seasons with the club.
Payton, the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 2000, when they advanced to the Super Bowl, went 152-89 with the Saints in the regular season, and finished with a postseason mark of 9-8.