A few years before he eventually took the head-coaching gig with the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton was almost hired by Al Davis and the Raiders.
Payton talked about that situation during an appearance on "Schrager Hour" with ESPN's Peter Schrager. The now-Denver Broncos coach is convinced that Davis planned on offering him the gig.
Payton first learned about Davis' interest in him from then-Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells. Payton revealed that things got far enough along that he and Davis even talked about a staff.
"[Davis] and I would speak nightly now about staff and it became apparent to me that he was going to offer me this job," Payton stated. "I went to Jos. A. Bank and got my black suit with the silver tie."
In the 11th hour, Payton got a call from Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones, who invited Payton to his house for a meeting. After that, Payton decided to stay in Dallas.
"There's a moral of this story," Payton said. "If Jerrys' the last guy you see, you're probably staying."
Sean Payton was thisssss close to being the head coach of the Raiders.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) September 3, 2025
Then, Jerry Jones got in the way.
First time Sean's ever told this story...
Coach Payton was an awesome guest on the first episode of "The Schrager Hour". Click the link here: https://t.co/2FJ99nsMWV pic.twitter.com/Rsvfp8NmH8
Payton was on Dallas' staff from 2003-05, and considering the Raiders hired a new head coach in Norv Turner in 2004, it was probably that year that Payton almost landed the gig.
Payton was hired by New Orleans in 2006 and went on to win Super Bowl XLIV in the 2009 season. Meanwhile, the Raiders have hired 12 different head coaches in that span.
Talk about a "what if."
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