PALM BEACH, Fla. — Sean Payton does see similarities between himself and Kellen Moore.
When Moore was hired to coach the New Orleans Saints earlier this offseason, it didn’t take long for the comparisons to Payton to be made. Moore even joked that general manager Mickey Loomis "might have a type" when hiring. They arrived in New Orleans, after all, with similar pedigrees, both lauded as innovative, young play-callers who would be tasked to lead a team for the first time.
"We’re all, to some degree, as new coaches … considered unknowns," said Payton, the former Saints coach now with the Denver Broncos.
But, at the NFL’s owners’ meetings Monday, Payton said he thinks Moore will "do well" with the Saints. The Broncos coach praised Saints owner Gayle Benson and the team’s front office, telling reporters that he believes they’ll provide the structure for Moore to succeed.
Payton also indicated he believes Moore’s personality is a good match for the city itself.
"Generally, you're going somewhere it's broken," Payton said. "And you've got to fix it quick. And I think Kellen has that calmness about him. I think there's a uniqueness to that city that maybe is not for everyone, but I think he'll do well there. … You can have impossible jobs or good jobs. And I think in this case, he's got a good job."
Payton knows what it’s like to fix a franchise quickly. His 15-year tenure in New Orleans began with a surprising 10-6 season that included an NFC Championship appearance, and the Saints then won the Super Bowl in just his fourth season. In Denver, Payton reached the playoffs in his second season at the helm.
Moore, for his part, started being compared to Payton long before he was hired by the Saints. He received them as far back as 2019 when Moore was a first-year offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. Payton, of course, also worked Dallas — which was the coach’s last job as an assistant before the Saints hired in 2006.
"In general, everyone has so much respect for what Sean has done in this league," Moore said in February. "Tons of respect and obviously the standard has been built based off his foundation, and we love that.
"We want to embrace it. I feel fortunate."