Should Sean Payton wait to pursue Cowboys head coaching gig?

There’s a level of joy and excitement that comes from coaching the best football players in the world. There’s also an enormous amount of stress.

For Sean Payton, he experienced both sides of the coin. The now former head coach of the New Orleans Saints has seen it all. Payton brought a franchise and city that was in the midst of uncertainty due to hurricane Katrina to championship glory and countless winning seasons. Those highs, of course, have also come with unexpected lows. From Payton being forced to stomach three consecutive losing seasons to being suspended for an entire league year due to Bountgate.

Ultimately, the rollercoaster that Payton has endured throughout his career has left him burned out. But should it prevent him from pursuing a head coaching position with the Dallas Cowboys?

Sean Payton should go after the Cowboys job now

When Payton initially revealed his plans to step down, the Hall of Fame leader of men sighted mental and physical fatigue as a determining factor. But while a recharge is in order, Payton’s abrupt departure from the coaching ranks could come back to haunt him.

As reported by Luke Johnson of the New Orleans Advocate, Payton was originally irate when Mike McCarthy was given the head coaching job of the Cowboys in 2020. Although that news has since made the rounds, Payton prefers to jump into television as opposed to getting right back into the X’s and O’s. Nevertheless, at some point, the urge to return to the sidelines will undoubtedly reappear.

Payton, thanks to his long list of coaching accomplishments, will have his pick of the litter once he deems himself ready to place the headset back on. However, by then, the Cowboys could find themselves in position to continue life with McCarthy.

In year one with their new headman, it was a disappointing. They finished the 2020 season with a 6-10 record. This year, the Cowboys climbed near the top of the charts, finishing the year with a 12-5 mark. Postseason play has been much of the same though, meaning, outrageously poor results when the lights shined bright.

Still, under McCarthy, who’s to say the Cowboys won’t take the next step? With quarterback Dak Prescott still on the rise, a plethora of talented receivers, and a defense led by Micah Parsons, the Cowboys could find themselves playing in the big game, or, at the very least, in the NFC Championship Game by next year.

Payton has earned the right to sit back, kick his feet up and recharge his batteries. That said, by the time he decides that he’s fully fit and ready to return, becoming the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys could be out of the question. Of course, legally, Payton is still under contract with the Saints. Nevertheless, this could be Payton’s best and only chance to coach in big D.