Broncos head coach Sean Payton is usually all business when football season rolls around. There are some jokes cracked and some smiles shown from time to time, but the 61-year-old head coach has his priorities straight with getting the Broncos back to winning a Super Bowl.
On Thursday, Payton took some time to have some fun with another legendary NFL coach, Jon Gruden. Their alma maters — Eastern Illinois and Dayton — squared off to open the college football season on Friday, and Payton used it as an opportunity to make a friendly wager with Gruden.
I’m in Charleston, Illinois today to watch @EIU_FB play my alma mater @DaytonFootball
My good friend Sean Payton is an EIU alum and just sent me this, a little friendly wager on tonight’s action.
Well Sean, YOU’RE ON! Can’t wait for tonight’s game!!! pic.twitter.com/c0BSq2eoK0
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) August 28, 2025
Payton’s stance might need some work at his older age, but good thing the Broncos don’t need him to get down in the trenches
A new box cutter and a fancy dinner were on the line, and it wasn’t looking good for Payton at the start, as Dayton’s defense had every answer for the Eastern Illinois offense early. EIU erased a 7-3 halftime deficit by running the ball all over the Flyers in the second half en route to a 24-14 victory and a steak dinner for one of their most famous alumnus.
Payton graduated from the university back in 1987 before beginning his illustrious football career. Other notable alumni from the university include former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo.
There’s no timeframe on when the new box cutter will be sent over or when the two will meet up for their dinner. Gruden said that he wanted to have dinner at the famous Shanahan’s Steakhouse in Denver, but after his Flyers weren’t able to pull through for him, it’s on Payton to decide where to have the last laugh in this friendly banter.