Feb. 28, 2026, 5:01 a.m. MT

Colin Cowherd has a saying: “Don’t try to be right; get it right.” And in the NFL, front offices get it wrong more often than they get it right with head coaches. 

ESPN recently ran a story ranking the best coaching hires since 2021, and Broncos head coach Sean Payton ranked sixth on the list, behind with DeMeco Ryan, Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald, Nick Sirianni and Dan Campbell (first)

Check out what the writer of the piece, Bill Barnwell, said about why he ranked Payton as the sixth-best hire:

While Payton and Broncos fans might be ruing their loss in the AFC Championship Game, there’s no doubting that the Broncos have made major strides since trading a first-round pick to hire Payton in 2023. The longtime Saints coach has improved Denver’s record by an average of three wins each season, leading to a division title in 2025. Payton wasn’t able to turn Russell Wilson around. Still, he has managed to build a solid offense around an inconsistent young quarterback in Bo Nix, creating open receivers on a weekly basis.

Payton is in good company, fulfilling his promise to turn the Denver Broncos around. While the injury bug bit the Broncos at the wrong time, Payton appears to be reloading his coaching staff and roster for another chance at another deep run in 2026. One could argue that he’s ranked too low on Barnwell’s list.

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