METAIRIE, La. -- Sean Payton has decided to step away as the New Orleans Saints' coach after 16 years.
He totaled 15 seasons as the New Orleans coach because he was suspended in 2012 as a result of the NFL's bounty investigation.
Payton began his news conference Tuesday by thanking Saints owner Gayle Benson and her late husband, former Saints owner Tom Benson. Payton presented Benson with king cake -- a traditional New Orleans Mardi Gras dessert -- saying it was his version of TV character Ted Lasso's biscuit tradition.
Payton said he was glad Benson told him to spend some time away from the team for the past couple weeks before he made his decision, "Because it is a big decision that affects a lot of people.