The New Orleans Saints and head coach Sean Payton have agreed to terms on a five-year contract extension to keep him in town through the 2026 season, as first reported by Jay Glazer of FOX Sports. Payton previously inked a five-year extension after the 2015 season, which was set to expire in 2021. At the time of signing, that last contract made him the highest-paid coach in the NFL at about $9 million per year.
This signals a few big things: namely, Payton is willing to see things through without Drew Brees at quarterback. Brees is playing at 40 and could retire after this season or the next without much surprise, though he’s still as vocal as ever of his ambitions to play until he’s 45.