Sean Payton just concluded his second season with the Denver Broncos after being named the 20th head coach in franchise history by Owner and CEO Greg Penner. One of the winningest coaches and brightest offensive minds in NFL history, Payton entered his 17th season as a head coach after transforming the New Orleans Saints into a perennial contender for 15 seasons (2006-11, ‘13-21). Leading the Saints to a victory in Super Bowl XLIV in 2009, Payton’s 169 career wins as a head coach (160 regular season, nine playoffs) ranks 22nd in NFL history, 5th among active head coaches. In just his second season with the Denver Broncos, Payton returned the team to a winning franchise for the first time in eight seasons while making the playoffs to finish the season.

Payton was recognized with The Steinberg DeNicola Humanitarian Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals in the NFL community who stand as leaders in their community, model exceptional behavior, and dedicate their time to addressing and improving the welfare of humanity.  The Awards ceremony also recognized several leaders around the NFL, including Payton’s former quarterback from the New Orleans Saints, Drew Brees, and Sandra Douglass Morgan, who was named President of the Las Vegas Raiders by Owner Mark Davis in July of 2022, becoming the first black female president of an NFL team.  

Recent honorees have included Patrick Mahomes, Kelvin Beachum, Warren Moon, Larry Fitzgerald, Eric Dickerson, and Christian Okoye, former running back of the Kansas City Chiefs. Leigh Steinberg, the organization’s founding member, represented football greats such as Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, and Patrick Mahomes, all quarterbacks. He has successfully negotiated over $3 billion in contracts and has represented a record eight first-overall picks in the NFL Draft. The movie “Jerry McGwire” starring Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding, Jr., was inspired by his life story.

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